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Dick Francis C.B.E. (1920-2010)
& Felix Francis
Dick Francis was an award-winning British author, best known for his many crime thrillers set against a racing backdrop. There is a lot about the author on the internet and elsewhere so I will just provide a brief biographical sketch here. Dick was born in Tenby in 1920. He came from a farming and horse dealing background and was riding from an early age. After a spell in the show ring, he decided he wanted to become a jockey. Too tall for flat racing, he sets his sights on National Hunt, but the outbreak of war delayed his career and he joined the RAF. Returning home, he started race riding and eventually became a top jumps jockey. He was Champion Jockey in 1953/54 and rode for the Queen. His most famous ride however was on the ill-fated Devon Loch in the National, when the horse had a freak fall only yards from winning the race.
When he retired from the sport he published his autobiography then went on to write a number of hugely successful crime novels. He won many awards for his work and was made a CBE in 2000. His novels all have some sort of racing connection, some more tenuous than others. His most popular character is probably tortured ex-jockey turned investigator Sid Halley, who appeared in four of the author's books. The author's books are of a superior quality for the genre and have a depth and insight into character which many crime novels lack. The only quibbles I have with them are a) there are often unpleasant parts in the books where horses are hurt and b) there is almost always a tedious romance involved in the stories which in most cases brings nothing to the plot. There are many reviews of all the books on Amazon. I have however not provided links to them all due to lack of time and space!
The role of Dick's wife Mary in the writing of his books has now been recognised, although it is not quite sure how much input she actually had. She researched and edited the books at least, and some say she actually wrote them, citing Dick's sketchy school career and lack of talent in English lessons. The controversy was sparked by the Dick Francis biography written by Graham Lord, who claimed that Mary had all but admitted she wrote the books, but they were published under her husband's name so as to be in-keeping with the masculine image and racing theme of the stories. (More on the controversy in the Telegraph obituary and in Graham Lord's biography)
As well as the much lauded novels, Dick also wrote a biography of Lester Piggott and edited a number of short story collections with fellow author John Welcome.
Dick Francis died recently and is sadly missed by his many fans.
Felix Francis is Dick's younger son. During Dick's last years father and son collaborated on the books. Before this, Felix was a teacher and also led expeditions to various far-flung places of the globe - his life provided grist for the mill of some of Dick Francis' novels and characters! Felix also helped with the research side of his father's work and in 1991 became his manager. From 2007, he became accredited co-writer. His first solo thriller was published recently.
Dick and Felix have a joint website, where there is a lot more biographical information about them.
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Sid Halley Series (Adult Fiction):
Excellent adult thriller series set in the racing world, arguably some of the author's best work. Interestingly, there were many years between each book in the series.
The single volumes were all reprinted a number of times in the UK - too numerous to mention all the printings! They were also published in the USA. All still in print except for the omnibus.
1) ODDS AGAINST
(MICHAEL JOSEPH 1965)
Reprinted numerous times and also published in the USA.
Still in print.
SUMMARY: Sid Halley was a top jockey until an accident ruined one of his hands and left him unable to ride races. He joins a detective agency, but is too depressed to show much interest. Then his father-in-law decides to take matters in hand and give him a case to investigate.
PONYMAD RATING: 4-5 HORSESHOES
2) WHP HAND
(MICHAEL JOSEPH 1979)
Reprinted numerous times and also published in the USA .
Still in print.
SUMMARY: Sid is now running his own detective agency. A new case finds himself getting entangled with his unpleasant ex-wife and facing a terrible ordeal.
PONYMAD RATING: 4-5 HORSESHOES
3) COME TO GRIEF
(MICHAEL JOSEPH 1995)
Reprinted a number of times and also published in the USA .
Still in print.
SUMMARY: Sid is investigating a horrific crime against horses. When he finds the culprit he is shocked to find it is a close friend. With loyalties divided and finding himself publicly ostracized for his accusations, this could be the hardest case Sid has ever faced.
Warning: some scenes of horse mutilation could upset readers of a sensitive nature.
PONYMAD RATING: 5 HORSESHOES
4) UNDER ORDERS
(MICHAEL JOSEPH 2006)
Reprinted a number of times and also published in the USA .
Still in print.
SUMMARY: Sid is investigating the shooting of a champion jockey and possible race fixing. In my opinion, not as good as the previous three, though still quite entertaining.
PONYMAD RATING: 3 HORSESHOES
Other Editions:
SID HALLEY OMNIBUS (Original title)
aka WIN, PLACE OR SHOW (USA title)
(PAN PB 2002)
Paperback original.
Published in the USA in hardback under the title WIN, PLACE OR SHOW by Berkely in 2004.
SUMMARY: Contains the first 3 books in the series.
Collectors Info:
Apart from the omnibus, these were all reprinted many times. Very easy to find in the UK, USA and Australia. The single volumes are still in print and there are loads of second hand copies around. The omnibus is a paperback original (although the USA edition is hardback) and is slightly less common than the single editions but still easy to find in the UK and America.
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Other Pony Books: (Adult Fiction):
All reprinted in paperback and most of the titles many times too numerous to mention. All published in the USA also.
DEAD CERT
(MICHAEL JOSEPH 1962)
Still in print.
SUMMARY: Jockey Alan York turns detective when he investigates the murder of a fellow rider and friend.
NERVE
(MICHAEL JOSEPH 1964)
Still in print.
SUMMARY: Mysterious accidents start happening to jockeys, one man is found shot dead, while another is found with a broken leg. When Robb Finn begins investigating, he finds himself caught up in a world of violence and twisted envy.
FOR KICKS
(MICHAEL JOSEPH 1965)
Still in print.
SUMMARY: Stud owner Danny Roke goes undercover as a stableboy to try and sniff out a doping scandal.
FLYING FINISH
(MICHAEL JOSEPH 1966)
Still in print.
SUMMARY: Amateur jockey and pilot Henry Grey starts a race horse courier service and enters a world of danger.
BLOOD SPORT
(MICHAEL JOSEPH 1967)
Still in print.
SUMMARY: Gene travels to the USA to hunt out kidnapped stallions.
FORFEIT
(MICHAEL JOSEPH 1968)
Still in print.
SUMMARY: Reporter James Tyrone investigates some information given him by a fellow hack just before he died.
ENQUIRY
(MICHAEL JOSEPH 1969)
Still in print.
SUMMARY: An unfair stewards enquiry labels jockey Kelly Hughes a cheat and he decides to find out who has been trying to frame him and why.
RAT RACE
(MICHAEL JOSEPH 1970)
Still in print.
SUMMARY: Matt Shore is a pilot who finds himself in the middle of a racing scam when he gets a job ferrying high class punters around England's race courses.
BONECRACK
(MICHAEL JOSEPH 1971)
Still in print.
SUMMARY: Neil Griffon takes over the running of his trainer father's yard when his dad is in hospital but finds himself hindered by a rich thug who will stop at nothing to make his son a top jockey.
SMOKESCREEN
(MICHAEL JOSEPH 1972)
Still in print.
SUMMARY: A film stunt man finds himself involved in real life danger when he travels to South Africa to try and find out why a friend's race horses are running badly.
SLAY RIDE
(MICHAEL JOSEPH 1973)
Still in print.
SUMMARY: Set in Norway where Jockey Club investigator David Cleveland has gone to investigate a missing jockey.
KNOCK DOWN
(MICHAEL JOSEPH 1974)
Still in print.
SUMMARY: A vicious gang of horse dealers threatens bloodstock agent Jonah Dereham...
HIGH STAKES
(MICHAEL JOSEPH 1975)
Still in print.
SUMMARY: Horse owner Steven Scott finds himself entering a murkier side of racing when he suspects his trainer of nefarious goings on!
IN THE FRAME
(MICHAEL JOSEPH 1976)
Still in print.
SUMMARY: Horse portrait painter Charles travels to Australia to try and uncover a forging operation.
RISK
(MICHAEL JOSEPH 1977)
Still in print.
SUMMARY: Roland Britten, accountant and part-time jockey is kidnapped.
TRIAL RUN
(MICHAEL JOSEPH 1978)
Still in print.
SUMMARY: Ex-jockey Randall finds himself involved with a mystery in Moscow when he travels there to find out why a British rider has been threatened not to take part in the Moscow Olympics.
REFLEX
(MICHAEL JOSEPH 1980)
Still in print.
SUMMARY: Jockey and keen photographer Philip Nore investigates the death of a racecourse photographer.
TWICE SHY
(MICHAEL JOSEPH 1981)
Still in print.
SUMMARY: Teacher and keen sharp shooter Jonathon Derry is given some computer tapes with a betting system on them which lead in time to mystery and danger.
BANKER
(MICHAEL JOSEPH 1982)
Still in print.
SUMMARY: Banker Tom gets involved with a deal involving 5 million pounds of horseflesh.
THE DANGER
(MICHAEL JOSEPH 1983)
Still in print.
SUMMARY: Andrew Davis helps to return kidnap victims to their families. Then an Italian woman jockey is kidnapped and he is drawn into danger.
PROOF
(MICHAEL JOSEPH 1984)
Still in print.
SUMMARY: Wine merchant and liquor-provider to the racing set Tony Beach is drawn into a dangerous world when a runaway horse box kills some of his friends at a racecourse function.
HOT MONEY
(MICHAEL JOSEPH 1987)
Still in print.
SUMMARY: A millionaire father and amateur jockey son try to discover why the father's latest wife was murdered.
THE EDGE
(MICHAEL JOSEPH 1988)
Still in print.
SUMMARY: Undercover Jockey Club Agent Tor Kelsey tracks a villain onto a train transporting horses across Canada.
STRAIGHT
(MICHAEL JOSEPH 1989)
Still in print.
SUMMARY: Ex-jockey Derek gets involved with danger when his brother Greville, a jewel importer, is killed.
LONGSHOT
(MICHAEL JOSEPH 1990)
Still in print.
SUMMARY: Writer John Kendall finds more than he bargains for when he agrees to write a biography of a racehorse trainer!
COMEBACK
(MICHAEL JOSEPH 1991)
Still in print.
SUMMARY: Diplomat Peter Darwin gets involved with a horse-related mystery when he returns to his childhood home.
DRIVING FORCE
(MICHAEL JOSEPH 1992)
Still in print.
SUMMARY: Ex-jock Freddie Craft now runs a horse transportation business. When one his drivers picks up a hitch-hiker who winds up dead, it is the start of trouble.
DECIDER
(MICHAEL JOSEPH 1993)
Still in print.
SUMMARY: Lee Morris is drawn into a mystery surrounding a racecourse he owns shares in.
WILD HORSES
(MICHAEL JOSEPH 1994)
Still in print.
SUMMARY: A film director gets involved with a mystery when a dying man confesses to him.
TO THE HILT
(MICHAEL JOSEPH 1996)
Still in print.
SUMMARY: A reclusive artist is attacked in his remote bothy in Scotland and is dragged back to the world he left behind.
10lb PENALTY
(MICHAEL JOSEPH 1997)
Still in print.
SUMMARY: Teenage Ben is determined to become a jockey but is targeted by his ambitious father's political enemies.
SECOND WIND
(MICHAEL JOSEPH 1999)
Still in print.
SUMMARY: A meteorologist goes on a hurricane-chasing expedition in the Caribbean but finds that the weather is not the only danger he must avoid.
SHATTERED
(MICHAEL JOSEPH 2000)
Still in print.
SUMMARY: Gerard Logan is doing well making a name for himself with his glass work. But when a jockey friend dies, he gets caught up in a search for a missing video tape. The trouble is others - and not very pleasant others at that - are also looking for the tape…
DEAD HEAT (With Felix Francis)
(MICHAEL JOSEPH 2007)
Still in print.
SUMMARY: Newmarket restauranteur Max suffers when first food poisoning and then a bombing threaten to kill off his successful catering business. Is someone out to get him?
SILKS (With Felix Francis)
(MICHAEL JOSEPH 2008)
Still in print.
SUMMARY: A slight departure from the norm as this is partly a courtroom thriller as well as the usual msytery/adventure. Lawyer and amateur rider Graham 'Perry' Mason takes on the defence of a jockey accused of killing his rival. When someone threatens Graham with dire consequences unless he makes sure his client is found guilty, he realises that there is more to the case than meets the eye.
EVEN MONEY (With Felix Francis)
(MICHAEL JOSEPH 2009)
Still in print.
SUMMARY: Bookie Ned Talbot always thought his father died when he was a baby, so who is the man who appears claiming to be his long lost dad? Before he can find out the man is killed, leaving Ned to delve into deep dark family secrets.
CROSSFIRE (With Felix Francis)
(MICHAEL JOSEPH 2010)
Not yet reprinted in paperback.
Still in print.
SUMMARY: An army captain returns home to his racehorse trainer mother after being wounded on tour in Afghanistan. There he finds himself trying to find out why the stables are under threat.
Several of these books were collected into many various omnibus editions which due to time and space restraints I am not adding here. Some of them are listed on the Fantastic Fiction website
Collectors Info:
All easy to find in the UK and USA and are all still in print.
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