This interesting character has lots of personality that the author should know well. I have never seen a Dick Francis story that was understanding of women or children. Some of the clues are obvious. Some times the smart jockey is quite an idiot and he does not fight well.

Keep me guessing.
I turn the page because I must. This 4th Sid Halley is the best yet, but it hurts to know that others who are important to him now get hurt because hurt doesn't deter him. But the new lady friend is made of stern stuff and stands up to the bullies, making her a lot more like Sid. Good story, good intrigue, and I'm glad to see the upper crust take a hit here.

So happy there was more about horse racing in this book. Sid Halley is always a clever guy. As the story goes on you think there are so many bad things that could have happened to him, luckily the bad buys haven't thought of them yet. I worried every time he had to access his parking garage!!
So many Dick Francis, so many other books, so little time.

I have read this book after buying from a sales shelf in a big orange Bookshop - in a central Mall in SOFIA=) I was wondering how can a book be about the same price as a fresh-pressed juice and a coffee (at a discount, of course).
After getting to the main point of the character's investigation - Sid Halley; ex-jockey and master for solving problems... I discovered that I had previously read the story but in a translation - in Bulgarian; from a paperback library copy. I thought I would leave it as the plot became more and more familiar. I didn't - till 2 a.m.
Spoiler! there are four deaths to be revealed.
I really enjoyed myself although it sounded familiar, because this time I was reading it in the original - the barber- sharp witty remarks are so much adding to the picture of rain, chase, racing etc.
- the picture of rural life in England
- the characters with psychological background of their actions or opinions, the girlfriend's braveness for example, the dialogues... well it is not actually reported speech but! ! I could make use of it when I teach some terms of Biology in English. It is really stunning how detective story can give scientific explanation of DNA analysis!!!

Dick Francis always wrote fascinating mysteries set in the world of British horse racing, usually steeplechase racing, a world he knew well being a retired champion 'chase jockey. I read nearly all of his books (to date) back in the late '80's but hadn't read another until now. This book reminded me of how really well he wrote and how well-constructed his plots and characters were. Under Orders involves the shady world of race fixing, and involves murder, among other crimes. Sid Halley, an ex-jockey now private investigator needs to solve the mysteries presented here that involved friends and acquaintances of his in the race world because the police think they have found the too-easy answers and can't (or won't) assign the resources needed to resolve the issues Sid uncovers in his investigations. The ending is rewarding and quite plausible, making this an over-all enjoyable book to read.

Audio book read by Martin Jarvis
3.5***

Opening lines: Sadly, death at the races is not uncommon. However, three in a single afternoon was sufficiently unusual to raise more than an eyebrow. That only one of the deaths was of a horse was more than enough to bring the local constabulary hotfoot to the track.

Sid Halley is a former steeplechase jockey turned detective (following an accident which cost him his left hand.) He and his former father-in-law are at the track as guests of Lord Enstone but the events of the day draw him into an investigation that involves race-fixing and big-stakes gambling.

I really enjoyed this exercise in detection which focuses on the world of steeplechase racing. Francis assumes a certain intelligence in his reader (always a plus), but gives enough explanation of technicalities of the sport so as not to leave the novice completely in the dust (i.e. this reader was never confused). The pace is good, although I did think it slowed a bit in the middle, and Halley is a likeable, intelligent protagonist. The plot was sufficiently intricate to keep me guessing, and I was surprised at the reveal. I did think the ending was a little contrived; he seemed to have painted himself into a corner (or locked himself in a bathroom) with no way out. But that was a minor flaw. I thought he did a fine job with the supporting cast as well; I learned enough about Marina, Charles, Jenny and Rosie to believe their involvement and to like them and want to know more about them.

As much as I love mysteries, and as often as friends have recommended Dick Francis to me, I had not read any of his books before. My understanding was that his novels are stand-alone works and not series, so I picked this one because it satisfied a challenge to read a book whose title begins with “U.” Just my luck, Francis did write two series – the Kit Fielding duet (Break In and Bolt) and the Sid Halley series, of which Under Orders is number 4 (and the last he completed before his death in 2010). I’ll definitely go back and start at the beginning. Although I had a vague feeling I might be missing some interesting background stories, I don’t think my enjoyment of this book suffered for not having read the previous Sid Halley works.

Martin Jarvis did a credible job of the audio performance. His voice is pleasant, he reads at a good speed, and he has enough training as a voice artist to differentiate the characters.

Yes, I've been binging on Dick Francis mysteries, one a day for the past four days. Under Orders is number 4 in the Sid Halley series. Although Sid's career as a jockey is over, he has set himself up as a private investigator. You get to have it both ways--some fun passages on racing and enough murders to produce an intriguing blend of horseracing and crime.

It is quite clear after reading many Dick Francis books, that his wife had a huge influence on the style of the book, if not wrote many parts herself. This one, the first since his wife died, is not up to his usual standard at all. It's missing the empathy, mystery and the human nature elements that I enjoy so much and is poorly plotted and clunky.

If you don't figure out who the murderer is early on, you've missed a big "tell." There was nothing subtle about this plot, and I really didn't care about Sid's sex life. I listened to this on audiobook, and fast forwarded several times - it just wanted to get on with the story, more to confirm that I knew who the murderer was than anything else. Francis also got bogged down in explaining molecular biology lab techniques, and he wasn't always completely accurate in his descriptions, so that was frustrating (and he went on TOO long adding nothing to the story except showing that he had done some research). So, this book is bubblegum for the brain.

I always enjoy mysteries involving horses and racing and have read many, many Dick Francis mysteries. Good plot, interesting beginning. The author seemed to go on and on to educate his reader on details not required, on DNA evaluation, on bookmaking in England involving internet gambling.... On and on and on. Was he padding for more pages? I put the book down several times and finally at 2/3 way through I just decided to finish it. Not his best.

It’s been a while since I last read a Dick Francis novel. I still think his earliest ones are the best before the formula got too set in stone and his research got in the way of the story. This one is a smooth read following Sid Halley as he investigates a murder, crooked gambling site, and possible race fixing. Halley definitely does not lack self confidence, and Francis includes the expected scene of violence. Overall, this is a light read and enjoyable mystery, especially for anyone in the mood for something tidily plotted.

This I think is my first Dick Francis book and I really enjoyed it. It was fast moving and gave deep insight into the racing and gambling industry. The lead character was also very likeable and interesting.