Dead Cert, the debut novel by DF, adhered to the pattern established by many of his other works that I have perused.

All the plots I am acquainted with in his novels center around horse racing, and he clearly has an in-depth understanding of both the favorable and unfavorable aspects of this sport.

This particular story boasted a decent plot, pitting good against evil, with an outcome that was somewhat foreseeable.

Admittedly, I did find the story to be somewhat predictable at times. However, the strength and vividness of the characters managed to carry the narrative all the way to the finish line.

The characters were so well-developed that they added an extra layer of interest and engagement to the otherwise somewhat predictable plot.

Overall, while Dead Cert may not have been the most original or unpredictable novel, it still had its merits, mainly due to the well-crafted characters.

It was an enjoyable read that kept me engaged from start to finish.

This was Dick Francis's first novel, written in 1962. I had a certain fondness for it, yet in some aspects, the story tended to be repetitive.

Alan York, a Rhodesian steeplechase jockey, witnesses the tragic death of his friend Bill in a fall on the supposedly sure-win horse, Admiral. He soon realizes that it wasn't an accident and decides to embark on a thorough investigation.

During his quest, he meets Kate, the love of his life, and her Uncle George, who has a rather macabre collection of violent artifacts. Alan then faces threats to stop looking into Bill's death, but he chooses to ignore them.

The story is set in a world without cell phones, where radio aerial taxis operate, protection rackets thrive, and the food leaves much to be desired. It's fascinating to read about the racing of horses from the perspective of an expert and learn about the tricks that jockeys employ to lose races or undermine their competitors.

Alan also encounters a gang associated with a Brighton-based taxi company called Macaronicars, who attempt to kill him. There is a murder, a thrilling chase involving a horse, and overall, it makes for an entertaining read that is worthy of a 3.5 rating.

Dead Cert is the very first of Dick Francis’ published novels, and it truly is a brilliant read.

It masterfully combines elements of suspense, mystery, and just the right number of keys to the puzzle to captivate the mind without revealing everything.

Statements like the one at the end of chapter 6, "And how could I guess, as I cut the cards for Polly and helped William straighten up his leaning tower of chips, that Henry already held in his sharp eight-year-old brain the key to the puzzle of his father’s death. He didn’t know it himself," showcase Francis as an amazing writer.

One might think this would make the story predictable, but in reality, it has the opposite effect, leaving the reader even more confused and intrigued. Francis has a remarkable gift for storytelling, providing just enough detail to keep readers engaged while still maintaining an air of mystery about what will happen next.

In terms of predictability, I did venture a guess at one of the main culprits around halfway through the book. However, there were also numerous red herrings that made it far from a certain conclusion.

Sadly, for me, the ending of the novel left something to be desired. I couldn't quite believe that was the end as I turned the page. Nevertheless, if that's the worst I can say about Francis' first novel, it speaks volumes about the excellence of this book and what a great author he was. I eagerly look forward to reading more of his works.

Dead Cert is the very first novel penned by Dick Francis, initially hitting the shelves in 1962.

These captivating mysteries, which revolve around the thrilling world of horse racing, have effortlessly withstood the test of time.

Alan York, a skilled steeplechaser, experiences the heart-wrenching loss of his dearest friend in what initially appears to be a tragic accident. However, as Alan delves deeper, he uncovers the shocking truth that someone deliberately engineered the accident, brutally killing his friend and leaving behind a grieving widow and several innocent children.

When Alan dares to ask questions and seek the truth, he soon finds himself becoming a target.

This is a truly good and solid mystery that delves into the seedy underbelly of horse racing and gambling. Additionally, there is a charming touch of romance intertwined within the story.

Although this book was published many years ago, its writing style is so engaging and contemporary that one would never guess its age.

Overall, this novel is an absolute A+ all the way, a must-read for mystery enthusiasts and fans of Dick Francis alike.

Dick Francis is a master at beginning a novel with a powerful and attention-grabbing scene. In this particular case, it's the murder of Alan York's best friend right in the middle of a thrilling steeplechase. At first glance, it might not seem like a murder, but Alan York has a keen eye and sees more than he should. This prompts him to embark on a dangerous journey to uncover the identity of the killer who took his friend's life. His decision almost leads to his own demise as he gets closer to the truth.

The mystery at the heart of the story is engaging, and there are several tense and exciting action scenes both on and off the racetrack. However, for me, the most outstanding aspect of the book is Alan York himself. I was eager to learn more about his past, especially his upbringing in Africa and the teacher who had a significant influence on shaping his character. The love interest in this novel didn't quite work for me, but that's not uncommon in Dick Francis's novels as they are not typically known for their strong romantic storylines. In this instance, I thought the ending of that particular subplot was completely unbelievable, which was a bit disappointing. Fortunately, this minor flaw is not enough to derail the overall story of murder at the races.

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Debut books in the past were often crafted with much greater care and precision compared to what we see nowadays. This particular debut novel is a real gem. It has a tightly constructed plot that keeps the reader on the edge of their seat from start to finish. The pacing is excellent, never allowing the story to lag or become dull. It truly is a cracking good yarn that will satisfy any lover of thrillers.

It contains all the classic elements that one would expect from a Dick Francis thriller. There are horses, the exciting world of racing, and a solitary, somewhat aloof main character who is suddenly bowled over by love at first sight. I can't help but wonder if this is how Dick himself felt about Mary when they first met.

In the story, jockeys are being targeted and killed by a new and mysterious player in the game. Alan York, the protagonist, is determined to find out the truth behind what happened to his friend. However, he soon finds himself being warned off and the situation becomes even more deadly for him. The identity of the antagonist is quite a surprise and really adds an extra layer of excitement to the story. And let's not forget about Admiral, the wonder-horse who plays an important role in the plot. Overall, I absolutely loved this book and would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a thrilling and engaging read.

When Alan York discovers that the death of his good friend from a fall during a race was caused by a trip wire, he resolves to conduct an investigation. Alan, an amateur jockey himself, was riding just behind Bill Davidson when the accident took place. The question looms: who could have had a motive to plot the death of the mild-mannered and likable Bill Davidson?

"Dead Cert" is not overly violent or nauseating (some of the author's books can be a bit too intense for the hero and the reader alike!), but rather a delight from start to finish. The author has a knack for creating heroes with admirable qualities and a unique ability to endure the most challenging situations and emerge victorious. Intelligent and resourceful, his characters interact with flawed villains, and the plot is filled with enough intrigue to keep the reader guessing.

"... it was comforting to realize that my adversary was not a man of superhuman intelligence. He could make mistakes. His biggest so far, I thought, was to go to great lengths to deliver an unnecessary warning whose sole effect was to stir me to greater action."

Dead Cert is yet another of Dick Francis' racing mysteries with a surprise ending. Although I had managed to guess the identity of one of the criminals, I found that I could not fathom the identity of the second. The plot of 'Dead Cert' unfolds cleverly and suspensefully, leading to a satisfying conclusion.

I have recently gone back to some old favorites. One such is "Dead Cert", which was first published in 1962. This book marked the beginning of Dick Francis' writing career, after he had spent years as a successful steeple chase jockey.

It is a relatively short novel, but its basic plot is outstanding. Reading a mystery written before the era of laptops, computers, mobile phones, and forensic testing is truly refreshing. There are no wasted words. The interesting characters, abundant suspense, and a highly knowledgeable insight into the world of steeplechase horse racing in England combine to create a great story, perfect for a good weekend read.

The main protagonist is Alan York, who was born in Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) but is living in England. He is an amateur jockey and also looks after his father's successful shipping firm in London a couple of days a week. The story starts with Alan riding well in a race, coming a close second to his good friend Bill Davidson and the favorite, Admiral. The race is unfolding as everyone predicted until Bill's horse falls in front of him and Alan finishes first.

The victory is bittersweet as Bill has been seriously injured and later dies in the hospital. When Alan reflects on the race, he senses that something was amiss with the way Admiral took the jump. He returns to the course to investigate the fatal jump and discovers a coil of wire. This is conclusive proof that the race/jump was sabotaged. However, by the time he reports his findings to the police and convinces them to look into it, the wire has disappeared. Alan then decides to begin his own investigation into why someone would want to harm his friend and discovers that things are far more sinister and the corruption extends beyond the world of racing.

There is sufficient suspense to keep the reader engaged, and the author doesn't play any unexpected tricks. When all the different threads of the story start to come together, the denouement makes complete sense. It is an enjoyable classic British mystery.

I came to Dick Francis rather late, but I am truly thrilled to be catching up.

This early novel is an absolute gem. Gentleman jockey Alan York is determined to uncover the mystery behind what caused his best friend's horse to trip over a wire and accidentally kill the rider.

His inquisitive nature leads him down a dangerous path, right into the heart of a race-fixing ring. As he gets closer to the truth, his own life is put in jeopardy.

The story is filled with excitement, suspense, and unexpected twists. Francis' writing is engaging and vivid, making it easy for the reader to become fully immersed in the world of horse racing and the seedy underworld of corruption.

I can't wait to read more of his novels and see where his storytelling takes me next.

Yeah,

I spent my holiday break from school reading Dick Francis. It was an absolute delight.

Dick Francis is a renowned author, and his books are filled with thrilling plots and engaging characters.

During my break, I got completely immersed in his world of horse racing and mystery.

The stories were so captivating that I couldn't put the books down.

I found myself eagerly turning the pages, eager to find out what would happen next.

Reading his books not only entertained me but also provided a great escape from the daily routine.

It was a wonderful way to spend my holiday break, and I'm looking forward to reading more of his works in the future.

I was truly inspired to take a second look at Dick Francis after tuning in to a captivating race-horse themed episode of Murder, She Wrote.

The guest star was Lynn Redgrave, and the suspected murderer was, quite unexpectedly, the pet dog.

Francis's books have remained so firmly in my memory. It truly testifies to his remarkable skill as a writer that, despite having no real interest in either horses or racing, I devour these books.

This particular one is his very first mystery, centering around an amateur jockey who delves into the death of one of his friends, which occurred during a racing accident.

The plot hurtles along at a brisk pace, and Francis manages to bring the racing world to life in the most vivid manner.

However, there is an act of retribution in the final chapter that seems to drag on just a little too long.

Nevertheless, overall, it is a truly great mystery read that keeps you on the edge of your seat from start to finish.

I read this particular work because one of the Penguin 60 books I perused recently, namely "Racing Classics" by Dick Francis, deviated from the norm. Instead of presenting a short story, it contained the first chapter of this book.

That initial chapter was exceptionally well-written. It masterfully built suspense, leaving me on the edge of my seat and eagerly anticipating what was to come. It effectively set the stage for what promised to be a great story. However, I was rather annoyed that it stopped there, as it had thoroughly whetted my appetite to finish the entire novel. A few days later, I managed to pick up the book for just a couple of dollars.

Dick Francis, a former steeple-chase jockey, is clearly writing within his area of expertise, and this is evident throughout the book. For someone with limited knowledge and even less interest in the racing industry, it still reads as a technically accurate work.

The story revolves around a series of supposed steeple-chase race "accidents" that are, in fact, not accidents at all. I firmly believe that without the precise technical writing, a book of this nature would struggle to convince the reader. Additionally, it weaves in elements of organized crime in the forms of race fixing, bet fixing, and general intimidation tactics.

I found enjoyment in this book for what it is - a fast-paced murder mystery thriller where the main character outwits the police and everyone else. I don't typically read a large number of these types of books, perhaps only one or two per year. Nevertheless, this one appealed to me.

I would rate it at three and a half stars, which I have rounded down to 3.