Proof (Published in 1984) - Fake liquor and murders - Authored by Dick Francis

Thirty two, handsome and eligible - Tony Beach, entrepreneur, wine connoisseur, equestrian enthusiast. Widower since six months. His livelihood is a mixture of retail and outdoor catering of drinks - and, Jack Hawthorn, horse race trainer asks him to organize one of his victory-dos.  Jimmy, Jack’s secretary discusses with Tony, that his boss may have been served spurious liquor by one of Jack’s owners - Larry Trent, and wants to know if Beach has the expertise to tell a genuine scotch from a fake (the Laphroaig, malt from Islay, says the label, not the taste!). The malt distraction aside, all else seems to be going well at Jack’s party, when the laughter turns to screams as a horsebox breaks in and buries people, taking the marquee down with the guests in it! No one was driving, it stood alone, and after awhile, the sound of neighing drowned the sounds outside. An important Sheikh is killed; Jack and Jimmy are severely injured as is Flora, Jack’s wife. Sadly, Larry Trent is killed.
An investigator later discloses that the restaurant that Larry had owned was under the scanner for selling spurious liquor - especially the famed Laphroaig isn’t what it claims to be, more of grain whisky than malt. When Tony accompanies the investigating officer to the Silver Moon dance, he tastes the said malt and pronounces his judgment, after which the officer prohibits the sale of alcohol in the restaurant. Tony also learns that before his death, Larry had bragged that he could pass off substandard booze for the real stuff. The duo meet Paul Young the company representative, who is flummoxed and taken aback at the charges Detective Sergeant Ridger is filing, but puts up a brave front. The investigator (Mr. Wilson) grills Tony about his whereabouts and what he saw on the day of the tragedy, did he see anyone other than the four year old child besides the horsebox? Was there a possibility that someone else could’ve been in the horsebox as it rolled downhill, crushing the Sheikh?




When Flora and Tony investigate the prints in the horsebox, they are struck by the fact that many of the prints are those of a child - could the little boy have managed to finally live out his childish fantasy of driving a big car, and could he have mistakenly released the brake that cost eight lives? Meanwhile, the Silver Moondance has been looted and plundered - when Tony goes to find out what’s actually transpired, he is met with Ridger’s dark silhouette in the basement, near the wine cellars - the wine list and bottles are missing, no liqueurs, beers, malts or any alcohol is left in the restaurant.
In an office, Tony finds Paul Young in a state of unconsciousness, and another two corpses in the office - one is that of a constable, seated on a chair, head between his legs, and the other of a man, on the floor, his head and neck encased in plaster of Paris, identified as the wine waiter - Zarac. An intriguing read, Proof is one of Francis’s finer novels, engaging and entertaining. Loaded with interesting facts about wines and liquor, it is also a book that uplifts the reader in terms of Tony coming to accept that his inferiority is only a figment of his imagination, in fact, he is brave and is a hero.

Twice Shy (Published in 1981) - Story in 2 parts, 14 years in between - Authored by Dick Francis

Twice Shy is narrated by John and William Derry, in two parts.

John Derry is head of the Physics Department at the West Ealing School, ‘with four masters and two technicians under my name.’ He follows innovative and somewhat unorthodox ways of teaching, which include getting an air gun into class to teach the students a lesson in speed! John has been married, eight years, to Sarah; they feel little attraction for each other and the marriage is like the many we see around us - for name sake’s only. For a young man of thirty three, Derry seems sounds dour, but is actually a solid, dependable guy. There are no offspring, but John has a much younger brother - William who is fifteen years old, tucked away at an expensive boarding school, thanks to a wealthy inheritance. Where is the trademark Francis horses? Well, William wants to be a jockey!
The teacher’s travails begin when his friend Peter hands over deceptively innocent audio music tapes - three of them, for safekeeping. Peter’s wife Donna is having psychological problems, serious ones - she’s stolen a baby - and to make all else worse, he is killed in an explosion! The tapes are far from musical, they are actually a coded computer language, used for betting by a gambler and criminal called Liam O’Rourke. After Peter’s sad demise, two low-lives land up at his doorstep - Angelo and Harry Gilbert, who demand that he handover the tapes to him - they want their hands on the tapes to find out details of the system that bets only on winning horses.




The first half of the book narrated by John Derry is and account of how he tries to safeguard the tapes, dodging the deadly duo and also multi tasking, i. e trying to unravel the secret behind the demand for the tapes. As luck would have it, time runs out for the criminals, and they are both sentenced to fourteen years in prison.
This is the second half of the book, narrated by William Derry, when the criminals have done time. Meanwhile, Jonathan migrates to the US, and takes up a teaching job there. Will, on the other hand, gives in to his love for horses and becomes a successful jockey, he retires when he gets a tad taller and heavier to ride. He then transitions to become a racing manager for a well to do horse owner. He also discovers that Angelo , for some reason believes it is Will who has been the thorn in his side, and the cause for all the bad stuff happening to him - therefore, obviously, Will deserves to die!
Twice Shy is written in the mystery form of Le Carre and PD James, it is Francis’s nineteenth novel. Although the plot is straightforward, the added dimension of the fourteen years works as an uplifting perspective. It is also the inspiration for a film by the same name, directed by Deirdre Friel and released in 1989. The screenplay was jointly written by Dick Francis and Miles Henderson. An interesting read, somewhat bumpy owing to the trappings of all mystery forms of writing and the aspect of technology in the ‘80s progressing towards the ‘90s - not a smooth transition there; even so, a good book on a rainy day.

Break In (Published in 1985) - Defending his family - Authored by Dick Francis

He is gearing up for a three mile steeplechase - the Sunday Towncrier Trophy (which took place on a Saturday, and was given news coverage on Sunday). His horse was North Face, winner of thirty eight races, thirty seven of which have been with Kit Fielding. As he is preoccupied with thoughts of the race, his sister comes in to meet him - one look and Kit is aware that Holly, who hates to drive, hasn’t come to visit , but drove one hundred and fifty miles from Newmarket because something was wrong. However, prone to superstition before a big race, he doesn’t encourage her to confide in him just yet; instead he asks her to wager all the money she has on No. Eight, and buy herself a drink with what’s left. With a promise to solve her problem, Kit - the older twin, takes her leave.
After a moody start, North Face does come out with flying colors – ‘like an arrow from nowhere’ - and now Kit is focused on finding out what Holly’s problem is. This time its three yearlings that Holly’s husband has purchased and is unable to pay for - the local gossip rag The Daily Flag has printed the news that Robertson ‘Bobby’ Allardeck, horse trainer and son of the tycoon Mallard Allardeck is in over his head, and Daddy isn’t going to rescue him. The threats start coming in, as Bobby is unable to make payments and obviously Holly is concerned for the safety of her husband.




The couple cannot consider suing the paper as they lack the financial means to do so - Kit is advised that they should ask instead for a public apology and retraction of the article. Owing to the bank loans, Bobby has no future in the house or property, as it is being viewed as security by the bank; however, amidst the hullaballoo, Holly discovers they are going to be parents, and after the initial reservations, the mood is of quiet celebration.
Jamie Grave is not giving up and tries every trick to ‘steal’ his horses back, but the plans are foiled by the wily Kit Fielding. Bobby and Kit’s relationship becomes one of mutual respect as they cover each other’s backs. Allardeck Sr. ignores his son’s plight stubbornly, eyeing the knighthood then lordship - in order to keep his prospects high, he donates most of his money generously to charities. As the mystery around Bobby’s troubles starts to unravel, Kit finds out that the vicious attacks by the press are actually Maynard Allardeck’s doing - this comes as a hurtful surprise to the family.
Dick Francis’s knowledge of horses and the familiar environ of racetracks comes to the fore as the novel progresses - his ease of narrative and simplicity in language with a touch of the poignant - are all well balanced and enthralling. This is his twenty fifth novel and is a favorite with readers, especially as Kit Fielding as the main character, engages the audience with his straightforward and honest approach to problems; he is at once astute and sensitive - as can been seen in his dealings with sister Holly and lover Danielle. An entertaining read from a clean hearted, well experienced story teller!

Banker (Published in 1982) - Authored by Dick Francis, about a murder and a banker

Never one to disappoint, Francis couples equine mystery and white collar fraud in the Banker. The story spans three years. Timothy Ekaterin is a banker at the Paul Ekaterin Merchant Bank Ltd, great grandson of the founder. He is met with the ludicrous sight of his sensible boss Gordon Michael, ‘one of the steadiest banking brains in London’ - standing in his pinstripe suit (what's wrong with that?) - in a fountain in the forecourt. As he helps the delirious man out of the watery abode, Gordon keeps mumbling something about the people with white faces who need to be standing alongside him in the fountain. A bewildered Tim drives him home, where his wife Judith discloses the fact that Gordon is suffering from Parkinson’s Disease.
And so begins Tim’s sojourn with decision making and risk taking on behalf of his indisposed boss. He starts by approving the loan for five million pounds for the purchase of a thoroughbred champion called Sandcastle. The bank is in trouble and he must ensure that the reputation the family has built over generations is not at stake, despite the risks stacked up against him, in this case, the prospect of profits is equally high. He consults with top breeders who vouch for Sandcastle’s champion genes.
Trouble begins when the horse, which is put out to stud, fathers foals that are malformed. On the personal front, he feels a growing camaraderie with the horse’s owner - Oliver Knowles and his daughter, Ginnie. His investigation leads him into the world of genetic altering drugs and subterfuge. Also, Oliver stands to lose everything as the value of his investment in Sandcastle plummets. An equally devious subplot is taking form as a serial murderer and rapist is on the rampage, and his victims are young women from neighboring stud farms. The horse’s owner’s daughter is found murdered, her mangled remains dumped by the fence, a bottle of dog shampoo found on her person.




Although the plot develops over three years, Francis is able to make the journey smooth for the reader, and one does not feel the weight of the years. Timothy is the quintessential Francis hero - dependable and principled, gifted with great presence of mind. There is also the undercurrent of Tim’s feelings for Judith, his boss’s wife, who is also strongly attracted to him, but the two never once cross the line and make advances towards one another. The highlight of the story is also Francis’s treatment of women characters in the novel - they are strong, lovable, with shades of human nature to make them more believable. Judith Michael - his love interest, Pen Warren - a respected pharmacist, Ursula Young - a bloodstock agent - all women with separate energies in Tim’s life.
The characters are all a real picture of the many we see all around us - some straightforward, others dark. Himself a jockey, Dick Francis has amazing insight into the world of horseracing and horses - especially the dark underbelly of money and violence that plague the beloved animals and their fates. Herbal healers, evil veterinarians, shady business deals, insider information being leaked - all add to the milieu of the story as it progresses over the rather longish period of time.

The Danger (Published in 1983) - About kidnapping, authored by Dick Francis

Five weeks, three days, ten hours - that’s how long it’s been since twenty three year old Alessia Cenci has gone missing, aka kidnapped. Andrew Douglas, partner, Liberty Market Ltd, an insurance company, where he is adviser on kidnappings - is the man sent to bring back the young jockey and deliver the ransom, in Bologna, Italy. He is suave, collected and clever, making him the perfect negotiator in ransom cases, within the ‘circles’, he is looked upon with respect for his many successes. When Alessia, one of the best female jockeys in the world, is kidnapped, as she drives home in her expensive sports car - he is the obvious weapon of choice, selected to get her back - alive. After he does so successfully, his services are sought once more when the three year old  son of a derby winner is abducted while he plays innocently on a South Coast Beach and the senior steward of the Jockey Club goes missing as he drives to a press reception in Baltimore.
On further investigation it is revealed that the kidnapper, though making all three incidents look independent, is actually the same person - a serial abductor, and while it may seem to the reader that Andrew is sometimes tailing a wild goose, yet he is on the right track, one which spans England, Italy and America! Andrew is pitted against Giuseppe, aka Peter, a cold blooded, elusive and wily European kidnapper, whose favorite prey are people associated with the racing circuit. Paradoxically, Giuseppe is actually from a wealthy family, and has fallen out with his father, and may have walked down the path of crime because he is in dire straits!




The book was written in 1983, a period fraught with kidnappings, which were the most favored modus operandi of criminals - they were ruthless, violent and lacking all human emotion - the abductors were able to put the fear of God not just in the victims and their families, but were also able to capture popular public imagination with vile apprehensions and forebodings of who could be next? Given this background, the story begins in Italy, a country no stranger to high profile kidnappings and unsuccessful police attempts to prevent them or to rescue victims. Even after the kidnapping of the little boy in England, the UK police seem adamant to do things their own way, endanger the child’s life. It is only the Americans who exercise caution and cooperation with Andrew, understanding the dangers of the odds stacked against them.
The technology and some of the settings may seem jaded in the twenty first century, yet the novel is gripping, taking an emotional look into survivors; for instance, Alessia is unable to commit to a relationship after the kidnapping, given that she is mistrustful of the intentions of men. There is the sign of blossoming of a relationship towards the end of the story, though with Andrew. Typically Francis, it is a good thing that comes in too late in the book!
An equine thrill to entertain you on a journey or weekend afternoon, with the interesting perspective that when all  else fails, and if the kidnappers don’t want you to call the police- rely on an external agency that can chalk out the best deal for you!

Even Money (Published in 2009) - Sudden appearance of a father - Authored by Dick Francis and Felix Francis

Ned Talbot has a clear perspective of who is, rather who he is perceived to be - a pariah. The sort of creature that makes for the underbelly of the racetrack - a bookie. The closet snobbery and class divide is obvious, stock broking is white collar, whereas punters socializing with bookies is strictly a ‘NO’. Ned and his assistant Luca are able to make decent profits and sizeable losses as they ply their trade at Royal Ascot and other small racecourses. A second generation bookie, he has seen the trade descend into depravity - from being an art form, almost where transactions were written in books, to the paper emitting computer – bookies are now less known for honor, better known for their sly, wily ways.
His mundane numbed existence is jolted out of its seasoned normality, when a man claiming to be his father, meets him at the parking lot at the Ascot. Ned is shocked, he grew up with his grandfather, who told him his parents had died in a car crash - so who is this man, really, claiming to be his father? Where had been all these years? Why had he chosen to show up now - seven years and two days after the old man’s death? His mind is a mess - he has never met his father for thirty seven years, has believed that the only family he has is now dead, yet here is this man, claiming to be his parent!
And so Edward ‘Ned’ Talbot is reunited with Peter James Talbot, his father. Peter tells him that he had panicked when Ned’s mother died in the crash, and in typical teenage fashion, had bolted in the opposite direction - to Australia. As Peter is filling the blanks in Ned’s life, telling him he has two half sisters, they walk down an alley. The sound of footsteps rings alarm bells, he’d had a bad day at the races - why would anyone follow him to steal from him?




The duo are mugged, and even though Ned throws an envelope with money towards the men - it simply lies untouched on the grass, so does his father - who has been stabbed in the stomach. Peter dies in the emergency room. Orphaned twice over, Ned is numb with shock, which deepens when the investigating officer tells him that contrary to the information the man has shared with them regarding his ‘father’ - the credentials the dead man has speak otherwise; his credit card and driver’s license have on them the name Alan  Charles Grady.
The police are mistrustful of Ned, shadowing him as he visits Sophie, his wife in hospital, who is being treated for bipolar disorder;  his mind is plagued with questions, as he wonders how and why his ‘father’ could’ve landed them all in such a mess? When he goes to the hotel where his father had rented a room, Ned finds thirty thousand pounds in cash, a device that resembles a remote control, counterfeit horse papers, and a polythene bag containing something that resembles grains of rice, but on closer look is frosted glass. Despite all the depressing events in his life, Ned is rewarded with a happy ending - where he is reunited with his sisters, and both he and Sophie look forward to parenthood!
Dick and Felix Francis have researched well, the Senior Francis is gifted with years of experience as a steeplechase jockey and Felix has almost effortlessly managed to melt into the style of writing adopted by his father - this seamless narration is the strength of Even Money. Excellent read!

Second Wind (Published in 1999) - Authored by Dick Francis, not about horses

What is most enthralling and refreshing about Dick Francis is the ease with which he introduces myriad backdrops for his story telling, all well founded on his equine love and past as a steeplechase jockey. Second Wind is the story about a meteorologist Perry Stuart, who, along with his friend Kris Ironside, work for the BBC. He lives with and loves his grandmother, who offers clear, sensible advice from time to time – ‘If you can’t fix it, think of something else.’
The two men fly in Kris’s Piper Cherokee, a single engine low winged aeroplane, almost as old as the friends - thirty. Their destination is the Jockey Club. This camaraderie extends to the workplace as well, and the two are sent on an assignment to Trox Island, where the men are to chase a category 5 hurricane - Odin! His grandmother confesses she has a premonition which doesn’t augur well for Perry, however, against good sense prevailing, the meteorologist sets about to leave for Florida.
Kris and Perry stay with friends in the Grand Cayman, another friend offers to lend them his plane - having flown with success, Kris is confident of making the trip to and fro - with no possibility of any danger. He however, doesn’t share the details of the route - Perry finds out why when Kris sheepishly confesses that he is also running an errand for the couple they’re staying with; Stuart would have to photograph mushrooms grown on Trox Island where their hosts own a farm.




When they arrive at the Island, they are surprised when they encounter no human beings, just a whole bovine herd greets them. The weather is also taking a turn for the worse, and so they decide to head back - they set off in the middle of the storm. On the way, one of the engines stalls and as luck would have it - their plane plunges into the waters below. Kris in a life boat, and Perry in a life jacket - adrift on the waters.
Stuart is washed up on the shore of an abandoned island where most of the habitation is destroyed by Odin. In a hut, he comes across a mysterious file and a Geiger Counter (used to measure radiation). He is later rescued by a team, all of which are dressed in radiation protective gear. He learns that much of the Island’s population was wiped off by a disease caused by unpasteurized milk. Back in England, Perry finds out that there is a sinister plot to ship uranium to undisclosed parties who crave the mineral for terrorist activities; involved are the couple he stayed with on the Grand Cayman.
Armed with knowledge that seeks to harm the vested interests of the evil rich, Stuart realizes his life is in danger, as another plane he’s on is sabotaged. His 40th novel received mixed reviews, with a majority criticizing Dick for giving a miss to his usual equine based narrative. Second Wind comes in gasping for breath just like the name suggests, you could read it for sheer fondness of Francis!

Silks (Published in 2008) - Authored by Dick Francis and Felix Francis - Barrister under pressure

Strange that the very barrister defending the criminal, becomes turncoat and condemns the man. Or a little bit like that. The young criminal has been unsuccessful in defending himself against the allegations, rather it would seem as if Mason has failed to rescue the defendant - he however, speaks his mind out loud and contrary to what a defense counsel must do in court in keeping with his client’s image - he does the opposite. Geoffrey Mason tells the court that the only reason why he chose to defend Julian Trent was because he had to. And so, the charming, rich and violence loving Julian Trent is sentenced to eight years in prison - held guilty on eight counts, four of them for assault, three for inflicting serious injury and  one of attempted murder.
True, Mason would have rather been out of number 3 court at the Old Bailey, racing his twelve year old bay gelding in the Foxhunter Steeplechase, hailed by amateur riders as the Gold Cup. Flashback - Geoffrey had wanted to become a jockey, he had ‘fallen in love’ with steeplechasing as a teenager, and had thought he’d spend his life riding horses. His equine ambitions were dashed when his father suggested that he join the family law firm as a solicitor; his clever mind and brains become the undoing of his ambition, so, being a solicitor it is.
All that was in common amongst the two distinct professions was the presence of Silk - both jockeys and barristers wore the fabric to work! He does relive some of the passion at the racetrack at Sandown, where his barrister’s wig is set aside for racing silks! His father also suggested he remain single, he’d achieves that status seven years after his marriage is over - his pregnant wife dead.




Present day - His sense of accomplishment is short lived as the clerk informs him that Julian Trent’s sentencing has been overturned, the brat intimidated three jurors and they were coerced into changing their minds. Using his immense influence, Trent is able to pull the right strings to get out of the prison mess. Also, top jockey Steve Mitchell wants Mason to defend him, as he is now accused in the killing of another famous jockey Hamish ‘Scot’ Barlow.
Despite the evidence piled up against Trent, he is out, and gets his hands on Geoffrey the minute he is able to, beating him silly with a baseball bat. Threatening the solicitor that unless he aids in the conviction of Mitchell, his dad and girlfriend will both be killed! Also, Mitchell is in a real soup, he’s had an affair with Barlow’s sister Millie, a vet. She later committed suicide after a lethal intake of animal tranquilizer, not found in her clinic. His betting slips are stuck to the pitchfork with which Scot was murdered. Obviously, the circumstantial evidence is damning!
Silks is co - written by Dick’s son Felix; it is a well researched book, given the number of legal references in the story - from the Magna Carta to the present day legal system. The twenty one chapters are divided into three parts – Murder, Arrest, Remand (chapters 1-6), Disclosure (chapters 7-9), Trial and Punishment (chapters 10-21). A happy twist to the tale is that Mason actually gets the girl of his dreams, at the end of the story, unlike many of Francis’s heroes. Also the killer is one closer to home, yet well concealed enough to go unnoticed.

Crossfire (published in 2010) - A collaboration between Dick Francis and his son, Felix Francis

Talk about adding insult to injury, not only does Capt. Thomas Vincent Forsyth lose his foot in an IED blast in Afghanistan, he now has to share a roof with his mother and stepfather at their home in Lambourn, with whom he has been at odds for the past fifteen years. Choosing the army way, he ran away from home at the age of seventeen, slept on the stairs of the army recruiting office in Oxford and was commissioned as a private in the Grenadier Guards; today, he returns to the grim prospect of the future as a disabled war veteran of the British Army.
Although her son has been wounded, and has lost the use of his leg, yet Thomas’s mother - Josephine Kauri - is in an extremely foul mood. She is not known as the ‘first lady of British racing’ for nothing. Thomas finds out the reason for his mother’s rancor soon enough - her horses have been losing at the races, and what with taxes and debts mounting, the lady wonders how long it will be before she loses everything. To make matters worse, she has been defaulting on payment of her taxes, using the money to invest in fraudulent hedge funds, avoiding payment of the VAT as well.
Add to this the fact that she’s been caught - and now along with the other expenses has to also pay an anonymous blackmailer two thousand pounds to keep quiet. Her husband is listless and inert, a mute spectator as she tries to salvage her financial position in vain. Thomas has been fitted with a prosthetic leg, but since the injury is still so recent, he suffers from ghost limb, he is not able to get used to the artificial leg and is constantly obsessing about whether or not he will ever be able to join the army again.





He is embroiled, soon, in his parents’ woebegone finances, and takes it upon himself to trace the source of the blackmail. And so, our one man army prepares for a different sort of battle, well camouflaged and armed with his trusty ceremonial army sword. His quest leads him to the manor house of his childhood love Isabella. Everyone at the dinner in her home is under the scanner, as the Captain uses his skills from the battlefields to help him sniff out the blackmailer. As his independent investigation progresses, someone wants him dead or at least in the least interfering of positions. Thomas is kidnapped and imprisoned in an abandoned stable - reminiscent of Francis’s own physical discomforts such as the collarbone fractured twelve times - however, after a harrowing experience, Thomas manages to escape.
Francis retired from the races at 36, and wrote his first novel in 1962. He has to his credit almost forty books and has won accolades such as The Edgar Allan Poe Award in 1970 & 198o, to name a few. He was declared the Commander of the British Empire in 2000. The book is dedicated to the memory of Dick Francis; he died in the year 2010, also the year of Crossfire’s release, his final novel - the fourth written in collaboration with his physicist son Felix Francis.

Under Orders (Published in 2006) - Written by Dick Francis - Another Sid Halley adventure

Sid Halley makes his fourth appearance in Dick Francis’s Under Orders. Born out of wedlock, apprenticed to a Newmarket racing trainer, he held the esteemed status of champion jockey – five odd years in a row. Now divorced from Jenny, his state of forced bachelorhood has lasted ten years. Sid lost the use of his left hand in two serious incidents - the first was an accident involving a horse, the second a deliberate intent to hurt. He now has an electronically charged prosthetic hand, which he has slowly grown attached to! Rear Admiral (retd) Charles Rowland may be his former father in law, yet the two men are great friends despite their many differences, including age and profession. On one particularly windy, gray morning, the two head for the Cheltenham Races, where the Gold Cup for amateur riders is in progress.
As he is hobnobbing with ex jockeys and the media, attention is brought to the screams for help – a lady sobs by her husband, as he lies lifeless – all efforts to resuscitate him are fruitless - sad end for a man whose horse just came in first. Sid makes his way to the grandstand where Charles and Lord Enstone are awaiting his arrival. The latter is concerned that the reason why his horses aren’t doing well is because someone is fixing the races. Shortly after, another jockey Huw Walter and his horse are also found dead. Huw, it was believed had been involved in shady deals, his boss and trainer Bill Burton – is suspected of the murder. This sad death happens within hours of Walter’s having won the coveted Triumph Hurdle.




However, when Bill is also found murdered in his home, he is off the list of suspects; the local police try and piece together a theory that he may have committed suicide after being ridden with guilt over Huw’s murder. Sid doesn’t buy the theory. Himself a private investigator of some repute, he finds it hard to believe that such a thing could transpire, believing there to be a common hand in all deaths. Amidst this entirely distressing and depressing scenario enters Marina van der Meer, a Dutch beauty and force multiplier in changing Sid’s status from single divorced male to his status changing to committed. Marina is also embroiled in the dangers of Sid’s sleuthing, as she is shot in her leg. Charles’s dire warning comes to his mind that while the villains can’t harm Sid’s prosthetic arm, they’d harm his near and dear ones.
It turns out that Lord Enstone’s estranged son Peter and his partner Juliet may have something to do with all this ruckus, after all it is no secret that the boy hates his father. In a bid to harm Sid, Peter tries stabbing him, but is hurt in the bargain - maybe in need of an artificial limb at the end of the encounter! All’s well that ends well, for Marina and Sid get hitched.
Dick Francis has the innate ability to mix crime thrillers and horse racing. A deserving awardee for the Crime Writers Association’s Cartier Diamond Dagger, Francis paints in Sid the quintessential caricature of a man committed to his principles and belief in the general good, despite having gone through demanding odds in his own personal as well as professional life.

Shattered (published in 2000) - Written by Dick Francis, another murder investigation

Gerard Logan is justifiably distraught. Martin Stukely, Priam Jones, Lloyd Baxter and Gerard had driven to the Cheltenham races, it’s New Year’s Eve, 1999. Sadly, of the four, only three men return. Martin loses his life when his mount crushes him in the race. The jockey Stukely and professional glass blower Logan (proprietor Logan Glass) had first met in a jury room, and although they had little in common, the men came to enjoy and shared a great camaraderie. But now, Martin is dead.
Gerard owns a charming glass art studio in a picturesque part of the Cotswold. He earns a decent living selling art to tourists and locals.
As the remaining three friends leave the racecourse, they are met with Eddie Payne, Stukely’s valet, who hands over a videotape to Gerard, telling him that Martin had planned on giving him the tape after the races.
On his way from work at his art studio, Gerard decides to stop by at a local pub, leaving the tape in the studio - bad idea. In his absence, the place is ransacked and the tape stolen. Also, Martin’s widow – Bon-Bon suffers the same fate, as her home is raided. Gerard is assaulted in his studio a few days later, the masked men demand that he disclose the whereabouts of the tape to them - funny, didn’t they have it already? When he does get his hands on the tape, Logan is shocked to see Ed (the valet), his daughter Rose and wily bookie Norman Osprey in the film - there is a fourth person present, whom Gerard cannot recognize.




Later, Logan finds out that the fourth entity is one Dr. Adam Force, described to be ‘a very plausible con man.’ The doctor has stolen audio visual material related to cancer research, a priceless boon to many sufferers. Could the tape be the one with all these goodies in it? Gerard almost gets killed many times over in the process of finding out! There are a million questions on his mind - why would the trespassers steal every single videotape in the Stuckely home? Why should they believe that he, Gerard, is aware of the tape’s possessor?
In the end, Gerard chooses to honor Martin’s memory by creating a trophy - a horse leaping over a crystal ball - featured on the cover of the hardback version of Shattered. The villains in the story are indefatigable, especially Rose Payne. Kudos to Dick Francis for his range of characters - Michelin starred chefs, solicitors, meteorologists, and now a professional glass blower. Like all of Francis’s characters in the main lead, Gerard is drawn into reluctant heroism and triumphs, but is self effacing and therefore makes no fuss over his heroism!
The story is interesting, holds the readers imagination for quite a bit, although the equine backdrop is somewhat subtle, the only reference made to horses and racing – begins and end with Martin Stuckely’s fateful death. Shattered, sadly, the fortieth book, would be his last with wife Mary, who died shortly after the release of the novel. He dedicated Shattered to England’s Queen Mother on her hundredth birthday; incidentally, Francis had served as jockey to her and Queen Elizabeth as well.

Bloodline (Published in 2012) - Authored by Felix Francis, continuing with legacy of Dick Francis

In Bloodline, Mark Shillingford is a television commentator, and his twin sister Claire (the number of twins in Francis’ stories is mind boggling!) is a famous steeplechase jockey. Mark covers horse races, in most of which Claire is riding. On one such occasion, he brings to the notice of the audience that Claire deliberately lost a race, though this went unnoticed, supposedly, by many present. Angry that Mark should tell the world so, Claire and he have an angry exchange over a tension ridden meal later. Claire tells him that it isn’t such a grand deal, admitting that she has done so four or five times earlier. Leaving in a huff, the two return to their respective homes - when Mark arrives at his, the ID on the display of his phone tells him its Claire; anticipating more anger, he doesn’t answer her call. When he does choose to listen in - there is only silence from the other end, so he hangs up.
Several hours later, she is dead, plunging fifteen stories down to her death from the balcony of the Hilton Hotel, Park Lane, central London. Mystery surrounds her death - did she jump or was she pushed? Why was she in a hotel in Park Lane, after having mentioned to Mark that she was, infact, heading for their home in Newmarket? The police support the suicide theory, insisting it makes sense after reading the note found in Claire’s room. Their father is cold and distant, sinking into the oblivion of gloom and anger after his daughter’s tragic demise. Only Mark seems hell bent on getting to the bottom of the conspiracy (if any) and wants to fight for justice for Claire.




Delving into the dark mystery, Mark uncovers a sinister plot dealing with fixing races; this supports his theory that Claire had no intention of killing herself. On the other hand, a yellow scribe writes a piece about Claire, being nasty and unkind to her to say the least, insinuating that Mark too has some murky skeletons in his closet. Later Toby Woodley, the rake writer, is found knifed to death; obviously, the police suspect Mark to have a hand. Later Mark discovers that Claire was a victim of blackmailing – her trainers and members of the equestrian fraternity seem involved.
The best aspect of the Francis duo is that the novels are simple narratives - not long winded and plagued with equine jargon. However one point to be made is that Felix has to learn to create male characters that respect women - Mark seems to bed them first, and as an afterthought enquire about their lives much later. The race fixing plot has been the discussed in Dick Francis’s other novels as well, but Felix Francis seems to rely heavily on it. Although Felix lacks his late father’s insight into the world of equestrian sport, yet has the requisite charm of storytelling given the fact that he co authored four novels with Dick, and of course, genes matter, too!
The book is the second solo attempt for Felix to keep the memory of his father alive - and although the Sr. Francis penned almost more than forty novels, his legacy seems to be in safe hands in the future!

Gamble (published in 2011) - Authored by Felix Francis, son of Dick Francis

Felix Francis goes solo in Gamble after his father Dick Francis’s death. He has co authored four novels with the stalwart. Nicholas Foxton, aka Foxy, is a former steeplechase jockey. Former because he was injured seven years ago, breaking his neck, and the doctors insist that he ought to stay away from any equine related activity in the saddle.
Foxy is now a financial adviser, a job he has little interest in, but one he pursues with equal commitment. His calm existence is about to once again be jolted; on a day when all was well with the riding world, Nick and his friend – Herb Kovak (who is employed with the firm Lyall & Black, a financial advising firm) are waiting to witness the Grand National, when the most heinous crime unfolds right before Nick’s eyes. Herb is killed mercilessly - three shots fired at close range.
Nick is plunged into sorrow over his friend’s untimely and cruel death, he is also dragged unwittingly into the handling of Herb’s worldly life - becoming executor and sole heir and beneficiary of his late friend’s earthy estate, leaving Nick both touched and surprised. No hallowed place this, it is a cesspool of poor management and intriguing business deals.




Herb was an expat American. And like most of his countrymen, plastic was his weakness - he left his earthy abode neck deep in debt and meager savings. Sherri, Herb’s twin sister, lends Nick a helping hand, and they unravel an alternative source of income that kept her brother afloat - an income source that was cleverly not recorded in any of his financial statements or books. It seems to Foxy that Herb was involved in gambling activities over the Internet which sustained his lifestyle, leaving Nick wondering how the authorities hadn’t caught up with Herb for as long!
As he delves deeper into Herb’s moonlighting activities, he becomes the target of enemies of his late friend, who had him murdered in cold blood. There seems to be no one he can trust, and he is plunged into isolation, knowing full well that he has only his insight and experience to fall back on in hard times. A client of the firm, Bobby Searle meets Nick and in desperation demands that his financial portfolio be sold, so that he can pay off a debt of a hundred thousand pounds; when Foxton is unable to liquidate Bobby’s funds soon, Searle is almost killed in a hit and run accident.
Meanwhile, a client of Lyall & Black – Col. Roberts - has asked Nick to advise him with regard to a trust fund set up by his family for the Roberts Family Trust Hospital, in Bulgaria. The Colonel’s nephew claims that the hospital is a hoax - it does not even exist. The man had visited the site where the buildings were supposed to have been constructed - nothing has come up as yet. When Nick investigates further, he discovers discrepancies in the Trust, conveying this to Roberts, who dies thereafter under mysterious circumstances.
On the personal front, Nick’s girlfriend, Claudia, who is an artist of some repute, is suddenly cold and seems distant. His world in turmoil, Nick is trying hard to balance his work, personal life and the sorting of his late friend’s affairs. In typical Francis style, there are a number of red herrings liberally strewn over the place, and the hero Nick, is the quintessential Francis character - upright, integral and hardy. Felix has taken on Dick’s mantel with grace and smoothness, perhaps lacking his late father’s ringside insight into the world of steeple-chases and horses, but nevertheless, keeping the reader enthralled!

Intervention (Published in 2009) - Authored by Robin Cook, attempt to mix religion and science

The story revolves around two plots, which are connected although they may seem unrelated at first. Archaeologist cum biblical scholar Shawn Doughtry and his molecular biologist wife Sana are in Cairo. Shawn is head of the Department of Near Eastern Art at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York. His interest in the Arts and all things antique leads him to acquire an ancient book. Shawn retrieves a letter from between the leather cover of the book; it talks of an ossuary containing the remains of the Virgin Mary, which may be buried under the St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome. Shawn shares the news with Sana, justifiably excited at this grand find, knowing that it would cause ripples in the Catholic world! Shawn is typically on an adrenaline high; go getting and hurried, he likes to take charge of things and have his way, being career obsessed, he believes he’s hit the jackpot after the discovery of the ancient codex he bought at the souk. He plans on making the journey to Rome, to unearth the ossuary and see what remains in it after two thousand years!
Then there’s Robin Cook’s favorite medical practitioner Dr. Jack Stapleton, who is also a pathologist - likes to kill time engrossed in work along with wife Laurie Montgomery, with whom he has co-partnered in several over six books. He uses his work to seek a way to deal with his young son’s cancer. Whilst conducting an autopsy on a young college student, who lost her life thanks to some trending alternative therapy - the chiropractor, treating her tore the lining of her vertebral arteries whilst manipulating her cervical spine. Jack decides he must address the issue of patients stepping outside the realm of traditional medical science and seeking help from healers and dubious gurus. Will his zeal and fervor put an end to an era of quacks or will it die on seeing the light of day?




Jack and Shawn haven’t met for thirty years, but share a camaraderie that has lasted these past decades, it includes another former classmate James O’Rourke, now Cardinal O’Rourke, Bishop of the Archdiocese of New York. Shawn obviously cannot wait to share this piece of news with both the men, especially James. The Cardinal, when he is told of the ossuary, is concerned that he may jeopardize his future in the Church with this seemingly blasphemous discovery, and asks Jack to intervene.
However, determined to see the ossuary out of the Basilica, Shawn and Sana are able to retrieve it and mail it to New  York, as the personal property of the Cardinal. O’Rourke is racing against time to stop his friend Shawn from making his finds public, for the entire world believes that the Virgin Mary was taken up into Heaven, in Divine Ascension, like Christ. Written a few years after the famed Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown, which truly shook the Catholic world with its outrageous and blasphemous claims, Intervention doesn’t even come close. However, Cook has tried to marry science, religion and medicine as best as he could, not quite the racy nail biter compared to his other works, but an okay read.

Death Benefit (Published in 2011) - Authored by Robin Cook - Promise vs. greed

Afrodita Pia Grazdani has had the nightmare innumerable times. And it always has the requisite affect on her - leaving her in cold sweat, afraid and insecure. A fourth year medical student at the Columbia University, Pia has been offered an enviable assignment - assistant to the living legend, Nobel Laureate, molecular geneticist Dr. Tobias Rothman himself. He is conducting two researches simultaneously about virulent strains of salmonella and the other, more challenging task of finding out whether healthy human organs can be created from stem cells - organogenesis.
Pia is from Albania, and has undergone immense suffering as a child at the hands of her uncle and authorities in foster care, this hurt was entrenched further when her own father refused to come to her rescue at the foster care center; she is now twenty six and although beautiful, with a stream of admirers, suffers from what could only be some sort of a ‘detachment syndrome’. Her most loyal friend George Wilson, an ardent admirer with whom she has had intimate (according to her, plain sex) relations on four occasions to be precise, is at the receiving end of her lack of emotions; she would rather he leaves and goes home than spend the night in her bed! This is a serious flaw that mars the otherwise pristine beauty.




Dr. Rothman becomes the father figure in Pia’s life; she is deeply attached to him, making up for the loss of emotional contact from her own parent in her growing years. The doctor admires her tenacity and dedication, they become kindred spirits, he even confesses to her that he suffers from Asperger’s Syndrome. The success of his research means that Tobias will put a lot of drug companies out in the cold, as organs such as the pancreas will be ‘created’ in labs, bringing down the usage of diabetic drugs, a major source of revenue for drug firms. When Pia breaks the news that after she completes her research and Ph.D, she plans to look after the financial needs of the Convent of the Sisters of the Sacred Heart, Rothman is livid, he wonders how she can throw away an opportunity to work with him over a god forsaken charity in Africa! When she tells Tobias the reason why, he offers to loan her fifty thousand dollars for the Convent, the Mother Superior refuses to be repaid, using the word ‘betrayal’, even as Rothman urges Pia to move on instead of being bulldozed with ‘Catholic guilt’.
On the other hand, unknown to the scientists cocooned in their laboratories, the world of medicine, life and death is manipulated by avarice and money. Two former employees of Wall Street, set about to earn a quick buck by buying life insurance policies with death benefits, from people who are in dire straits. They pay premiums on the policies, collecting benefits when the people die. They have researched well and are aware that people in need of organ transplants are especially prone to financial crunches, weigh the odds of finding a donor, and the body rejecting the donated organ. The machinery they’ve created is well oiled and earning them enough cash, when things get a little shaky.
One of their own, a protégée of theirs, decides to pull a fast one on them - she is short selling their stock. Apparently the woman had wanted to be a part of their team, but was rejected, this mad her see red and she decided that they would pay for this decision. This brilliant yet twisted creature has gotten onto the trail of Dr. Rothman, and his cutting edge theory of organogenesis. Maybe these banking brains could make money out of it! Robin Cook has authored thirty odd books, Death Benefit  is another brilliant work from his amazing storehouse of storytelling and imagination!

Dead Heat (Published in 2007) - Authored by Dick Francis and Felix Francis

Max Moreton is well known in the racing town of Newcastle, he owns a Michelin starred restaurant - the Hay Net. His connection to horses - both his brother and late father were horse trainers. The local community knows and respects him for his celebrity status as well as his success as a restaurateur, the youngest decorated chef etc. Unfortunately, this blissful state is short lived. After dining at the Hay Net, regrettably twenty four of his guest diners fall violently ill and are hospitalized. Their illness is linked to a possible case of food poisoning, the origins of which are further traced to Max’s restaurant. His business standing and goodwill take a direct hit when the Hay Net is forcibly closed by the Health Department; he faces a spate of ill luck and court cases.
Just hours later, Max is also seriously ill, so much so that he almost loses his life - could the poisoned food have found its way into his home as well? Despite the fact that he is so unwell, picking up the pieces, he sets about to cater at the Two Thousand Guineas one afternoon - the lunch is being hosted by an American company - Delafield Industries - which manufactures farming machinery. MaryLou Fordham, the lady in charge of the event is overly concerned that the function goes off well, even though a number of prominent faces will be missing after having taken ill. As his crew is serving lunch, a bomb blast rips through a boxed area seating (where a wealthy Arab prince and his entourage were to be seated), killing twenty people, and almost killing Max, too! MaryLou is critically injured and Max wonders whether she will survive. A young employee of his dies on the spot - the damage to life and property is colossal. The police think that the perpetrators of the crime have blown up the wrong box. Sadly, MaryLou loses both her legs in the blast and dies in hospital, part of the other fourteen dead.




Max is also being sued by a young violinist Caroline Aston, who is  part of a string quartet, who was at the Stakes; she holds him responsible for the loss of professional opportunity - their anger turns to strong attraction, though. The two fall in love and are engaged at the end of the novel. Amidst all the problems that’re piled up against him, Moreton is concerned and dogged in his determination about finding out who is responsible for this debacle?
His culinary reputation and business on the stake, Max Moreton sets out to clear his name - his findings lead him to the fact that kidney bean lectin, found in undercooked beans is responsible for the illness of his guests, including himself. However, there is one little detail that the Health and Police Departments need to be aware of - kidney beans weren’t on the menu the night the mishap took place.
After his wife Mary’s passing away in 2000, Dick’s son Felix worked with him to research on the next novels, co-writing with his father. Dead Heat is a refreshing look at the mystery genre the Francis duo are famous for, set in the world of hospitality, with the racetrack as a backdrop.

Whip Hand (Published in 1979) - Written by Dick Francis

Sid Halley never had it easy - orphaned at a young age, he became a racing trainer’s apprentice at fifteen, but was well looked after by his trainer who taught him the ways of the world and the racetrack - he became a champion jockey, turned sensible investments into a fortune, married for two years in happiness, two years in discord and one year in bitterness - divorced after five years – choosing the racetrack over marriage. Misfortune struck when his left hand was crippled after he fell from a horse, and the animal trampled his hand. Furthermore, it was amputated after a villain - Howard Craye, damaged it (Odds Against). He has still not come to terms with the loss of his limb and struggles to accept his new battery charged hand, all metal and plastic in place of sinew and blood.
As he sits watching a ‘decent comedy’ on  telly one evening, he is visited by Rosemary Caspar, the wife of a well to do, high flying trainer George Caspar, for whom Sid had ridden in the past. The lady suspects that someone is out to ruin her husband by sabotaging his thoroughbreds; sadly no one gives her any attention or believes in humoring her suspicions. A lot is at stake for the Caspars - their reputation, wealth and social standing, their future in racetracks and off course their beloved horses, who have suffered at the races, losing out to equine specimens lesser than them. Now there is Tri-Nitro, and Rosemary is concerned that he will suffer the same fate. She pleads with Sid to ensure that nothing happens to George’s thoroughbreds, he agrees to help.




Sid gets in touch with Bobby Unwin of the Daily Planet, who wrote a piece on George Caspar sometime ago. The journalist agrees to give him a copy of  the magazine when they meet. While he is trying to sort through affairs de Caspar, his ex father in law Admiral (retired) Charles Roland asks him to come over and meet Jenny, his ex as well as him. Apparently Jenny was swindled by a smooth talking conman, into doing some shady mail order business to raise money for charity - once Jenny rakes in the moolah, the conman disappears, leaving her to cover his tracks and answer to the donors; she also faces the horrific possibility of landing in prison!
A third sub plot is added, as Sid’s help is requested to investigate the shady dealings of many patrons and syndicates of the Jockey Club. Lord Friarly, Earl and landowner approaches Sid and tells him that he is concerned about how syndicate formers were buying horses cheap, selling them for four times the profit – it was legal up till then, but things went awry when these horses  failed to perform - the Earl suspects that the races are being fixed.
Sid has his hands full this time, and he is in a spin - yet, he never compromises on his ethics and ideals, ever the perfect Francis hero! Whip Hand is the only novel other than John Le Carre’s The Spy Who Came In From The Cold, to have received the Gold Dagger (Best Novel, 1979) and the Edgar Award (Best Novel,1980). For Dick Francis fans, this book can be enjoyed.

Reflex (A novel by Dick Francis) - Published in 1980 - Insurance conspiracy

Phillip Nore is lying with his face in the mud - thrown off an ill tempered, poorly trained horse; as he trudges uphill to where the rest of the jockeys are in the weighing room, he is constantly reminding himself of why he is a steeplechase jockey - he loves riding, he loves horses, and frankly, he doesn’t know how else to spend his life, other than pursuing his second love, amateur photography. He is reminiscing about another famous photographer - George Millace, father of Steve Millace, twenty three, serious jockey, upset that his prize winning dad is no more and his mum’s house has been burgled. Phil had been riding Steve’s horse, incidentally, when he had a fall.
Getting ready one day for his next race with Daylight, Phil is brimming with confidence as he is certain that he’ll win the race; however, the horse’s trainer Harold Osborne asks him to deliberately lose, just so that Victor Briggs, a moneyed horse owner who owned most of Osborne’s horses, had placed a bet on another horse winning. Harold does not want to displease his boss, and would rather compromise on the fair rules of the game than earn Victor’s ire. Phil is thirty years old, and has worked with Harold for seven years; he lost races intentionally for three, and knows full well that if he  were to disobey the boss’s orders, he might lose his job and worse, he may never be employed elsewhere either. However, Phil does not accept any remuneration for these fixed races, and refuses Victor’s generous offerings.




And so, Phil loses the race, so does Steve Millace, who also nurses a fractured collar bone and asks Phil to drive him to his mother’s in Ascot. The young man mentions to Phil how the late George Millace appreciated Phil’s talent for photography and thought he would make an ace photographer. As they near Steve’s home, they are shocked to see an ambulance and police car parked outside. Steve’s mother has been beaten black and blue, furniture is broken, the surroundings are in disarray. Phil accompanies the lady and her son to hospital, but not before he collects George’s ‘rubbish’- old film negatives and photographs, to sift through later.
Meeting a lawyer friend of his later, Phil sits down with Jeremy Folk and the two are surprised at the contents of George’s box. Some years ago, a man called Elgin Yaxley had received a huge sum in insurance after five of his thoroughbreds had been shot dead, the killer -Terence O’Tree had been sent to prison. Yaxley had told the authorities that he had never met O’Tree, and had no idea who he was; yet, George had photographed the two men at a French Café two years ago, before the incident had taken place (according to the date on the picture) – Terence was imprisoned and Elgin had raked in all the insurance money and gone away to Hong Kong. Obviously, the presence of the picture negated the man’s claims, and implicated him in fraud - could this be the reason why George’s house was ransacked and his poor wife attacked?
A refreshing story, told in Francis’s smooth and simple style of writing, Reflex will capture your imagination as the motive for murder and fraud take the reader by surprise. Phillip Nore is the quintessential Francis hero - principled and young, attractive and humble. Worth reading!