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Dick Francis first introduced his audience to Sid Halley in Odds Against in 1967. Generally, Francis created stand alone stories and did not repeat his characters. I believe I read somewhere, but cannot find the source, that Francis decided to revive Sid after Odds Against was serialized for British tv in 1979. So Sid was back in Whip Hand. Lucky us! Four years later, we get Come to Grief.Sid Halley is a favorite of mine. He’s a flawed man, whose stubborn commitment to his job, first as a jockey and later as a private investigator, has cost him. He lost his wife, he lost his hand, and came close to costing others their lives. But that’s why I love this guy. He’s not reckless, necessarily, but determined to do the right thing. Over the course of the books, we watch Sid evolve from a bit of a loner to someone with family, friends, and a future.
Sid doesn’t reappear until Under Orders was written in 2006. Dick Francis was 85 years old at that time. This is purely conjecture on my part, but maybe Francis wanted a chance to wrap things up with Sid Halley. And he does exactly that. Sid’s out to find the truth about a murder/suicide that the police think was pretty obvious. At the same time, and coincidentally with some of the same people involved, he’s looking into potential race-fixing. We know that Sid poking around in these situations is bound to have some nasty consequences for him. Of course, this is a Dick Francis novel, so we know Sid will figure things out. And finally, he does this surrounded by people who truly “get” him. Sid, and Dick Francis, get their happily ever after ending. Nicely done.
Dick Francis died four years later in 2010. Before his death, he started collaborating on stories with his son Felix. They wrote three books together, Dead Heat, Silks, and Even Money. After his father’s death, Felix started writing his own “Dick Francis” novels. I haven’t read any yet so can’t comment on them. But, in 2013, he writes another Sid Halley story. I’m not sure I want to read this. I loved Sid and I liked where his story ended. So, I don’t think I’ll be reading this one.
Sid doesn’t reappear until Under Orders was written in 2006. Dick Francis was 85 years old at that time. This is purely conjecture on my part, but maybe Francis wanted a chance to wrap things up with Sid Halley. And he does exactly that. Sid’s out to find the truth about a murder/suicide that the police think was pretty obvious. At the same time, and coincidentally with some of the same people involved, he’s looking into potential race-fixing. We know that Sid poking around in these situations is bound to have some nasty consequences for him. Of course, this is a Dick Francis novel, so we know Sid will figure things out. And finally, he does this surrounded by people who truly “get” him. Sid, and Dick Francis, get their happily ever after ending. Nicely done.
Dick Francis died four years later in 2010. Before his death, he started collaborating on stories with his son Felix. They wrote three books together, Dead Heat, Silks, and Even Money. After his father’s death, Felix started writing his own “Dick Francis” novels. I haven’t read any yet so can’t comment on them. But, in 2013, he writes another Sid Halley story. I’m not sure I want to read this. I loved Sid and I liked where his story ended. So, I don’t think I’ll be reading this one.
