A typical Dick Francis read offers a distinct experience.

All the characters are neatly divided into two camps: either they are extremely nice and helpful, or they are downright evil. There are no shades of grey.

Sometimes, one desires to read a story that clearly presents the battle between good and evil, rather than grappling with the complex and ambiguous greys in between.

In Dick's novels, the protagonists are always likeable, and this particular story is no exception.

When it comes to this specific tale, it features good suspense, several thrilling scenes, and a satisfying ending.

All in all, it makes for a very enjoyable read that keeps the reader engaged from start to finish.

Whether you are a long-time fan of Dick Francis or new to his works, this story is sure to provide entertainment and excitement.

So, pick up this book and immerse yourself in the world of good and evil created by the master storyteller, Dick Francis.

What is there to say about Dick Francis?

As I reflect upon all of his books (yes, this review encompasses all of his works, and indeed I've perused each and every one), I envision a moral and ethical hero. This hero, deeply immersed in intelligence and goodness, finds himself embroiled in the evil machinations within British horse racing society, either directly or indirectly. The heroes aren't always horse jockeys; they can be film producers or individuals engaged in peripheral professions that somehow always intersect with the horse racing world.

But moreover, Francis's heroes are rational human beings. The choices they make are rational decisions guided by a firm objective philosophy that underlies all of Francis's novels. The dialogue is lucid and infused with humor, regardless of the intensity of the evil that the hero confronts. The hero's thoughts disclose a vulnerability that is touching, while his actions are always founded on doing the right thing to achieve justice.

Evoking in the reader a deep concern for the characters in a novel is a challenging feat. However, in a Francis novel, there are no such apprehensions. The point of view is first person, and as you read the story, you become the main character (usually the character of Mr. Douglas). The hero is personable, likable, non-violent, yet delivers swift justice with his mind rather than through physical means. This is not to suggest that violence is foreign to our hero. Some of it is staggering and often perpetrated by what we would consider normal individuals living in British society.

You will come to cherish the world of Steeple Chase racing, develop a fondness for horses, stables, trainers, and the people who inhabit that world. You will read the books, voraciously devouring one after another. And trust me, Dick Francis has an abundance of novels (over 40 by my last count).

There are several series interwoven into the fabric of Francis's work: notably the Sid Halley and Kit Fielding series.

Assessment: Dick Francis is one of my favorite writers. I read his books with an intense hunger that remains unquenchable, and I lament his passing.

Started: December 1, 2007
Finished: December 3, 2007

***

This is yet another re-read of a work by one of my most beloved authors. Dick Francis, a highly accomplished jockey, had the honor of riding the Queen Mother's horses. After his retirement, he embarked on a new journey of writing books*. And I firmly believe that his works are truly brilliant.

All of his books are in some way related to horse racing (although in some cases, the connection is rather peripheral). With very few exceptions, the protagonist (and very few of them are repeated) is compelled to assume the role of an amateur detective, usually out of self-defense or to protect his loved ones.

His books are almost all relatively thin, making them a quick read. They serve as a prime example of how to cram a wealth of story into a concise volume. He uses his words sparingly, and has a masterful touch when it comes to both character portrayal and story construction. There are no cheap tricks, although the reader doesn't always have access to all the information that the protagonist knows, especially as all the threads begin to converge. However, the denouement always makes perfect sense. He steadily increases the stakes for his characters, and his protagonists are, without exception, well-developed, interesting, flawed, human, and heroic.

It has been a considerable amount of time since I last read this particular book, and I had forgotten just how much I enjoyed it.

***


*Yes, I am aware that some people claim it is his wife who actually wrote the books. But who really cares? The books bear the name "Dick Francis", and whether it is a pseudonym for his wife or not makes no difference to me. The books are still just as brilliant.

First published in 1962, this remarkable book marked the beginning of Dick Francis's illustrious career as a novelist.

Francis, who was forty-two at that time, was a veteran of World War II and a former steeplechase jockey himself. Virtually all of his novels are set in and around the exciting world of British horseracing. While he repeats the same character only a couple of times, almost all of his protagonists share similar traits - relatively young, intelligent, determined, courageous, and somewhat aloof - at least until they meet the right woman, and then, more often than not, it's love at first sight.

In each novel, early on, the protagonist stumbles upon some blatant injustice and resolves to conduct an investigation. Inevitably, he incurs the enmity of the wrong person and finds his own health and well-being in serious danger. Often, there is a powerful, sinister force pulling the strings from behind the scenes, and our hero must unmask and expose this culprit.

In this particular case, the protagonist is Alan York, an amateur steeplechase rider. He hails from a wealthy family in Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe), and when he's not in the saddle, he works in his father's shipping firm in London.

As the story commences, York is participating in a race alongside his best friend, Bill Davidson, who is riding a horse named Admiral. Davidson and Admiral are the overwhelming favorites in the race, a "sure thing" to win. However, at the rear of the course, Admiral trips over a fence. The horse collapses on top of Davidson, who succumbs to his injuries. York, riding directly behind Davidson, witnesses something suspicious just before his friend takes the fall. After the race, York returns to the jump where Davidson fell and discovers that someone had stretched a wire across the top of the jump, causing the horse to stumble and Davidson to be fatally hurt.

By the time York can summon someone in authority to inspect the scene, the wire has been removed, and there is no evidence to suggest that the horse was deliberately tripped. York knows the truth, nevertheless, and embarks on his own investigation. He uncovers that someone has been attempting to fix races, and the deeper he delves into the investigation, the more trouble he finds himself in. Before long, he realizes that he is engaged in a battle of wills against a highly dangerous adversary who will stop at nothing to safeguard his criminal operation.

All in all, it's a captivating story. As in all of these books, readers gain a wealth of knowledge about the world of British horse racing, and the novel is certain to appeal to anyone who has a penchant for classic British crime fiction.

After reading the latest overly-clever pseudo-mystery that strived too hard to be darkly humorous, I simply had to rid that taste from my mouth by delving into an actual mystery. I'm well aware that I can always rely on Dick Francis to deliver an engaging murder within the realm of horse racing.

True to his typical style, a likable individual meets his untimely demise in the very first chapter, leaving just enough breadcrumbs for our narrator to pursue the culprit with minimal interference from the police. The mystery presented in "Dead Cert" was complex enough to keep me guessing throughout the majority of the chapters, yet it still afforded me the opportunity to solve it before the detective. The main character is endearing, has a romantic interest, and a deep affection for horses. The plot is a lighthearted blend of drama, danger, and humor, and the backdrop of English steeple-chasing adds an element of entertainment.

It's a thoroughly enjoyable book. It might not be a psychological thriller that twists your mind, or dramatically original, or startlingly intense, or fulfill some other lofty proclamation on the book jacket. However, it is precisely what books should be: a source of pleasure and enjoyment.

A 2021 re-read - and I do hope I'm not about to embark on a binge re-read - I don't have the time.

To some extent I agree with my 2018 'Regency' comment. However, I don't think it seriously undermines enjoyment. At the same time, I have to admit my admiration of the plotting.

Written in 1962, there is a lot in this that is of interest as social history - the police, the town, and the communications.

Oh my palpitating heart, the love interest is positively Regency. Love declared by a presumably hot-blooded man on the strength of a glance and gentle, unawakened kisses - and as a result, it undermines the whole.

That being said, the plot, even if a little far-fetched, and the writing are superb. The story weaves together various elements in a captivating way, keeping the reader engaged from start to finish. The descriptions of the setting and the characters add depth and authenticity to the narrative. Despite the somewhat unrealistic love interest, the overall quality of the book makes it a worthwhile read.

I look forward to seeing what new insights and perspectives I may gain from future re-reads, should time permit.

I absolutely adore Francis' books. They have a certain charm that always manages to draw me in. And this particular one was no exception. I truly enjoyed reading it from start to finish.

However, there was one aspect that really bothered me, and that was the ending. Now, don't get me wrong, I understand that it was good for the overall plot. It tied up a lot of loose ends and added an interesting twist. But I just couldn't help but feel that the main character, Alan, shouldn't have ended up with the person he did. It just didn't feel right to me.

Otherwise, I would have easily given this book 4 stars. It was a good story, as usual, with engaging characters and a well-developed plot. But the romance in it felt a bit contrived. It didn't flow naturally, and it seemed forced at times. Despite this flaw, I still think Francis is a great author, and I will continue to read his books in the future.

When amateur jockey Alan York witnesses his friend and colleague take a fall in a racing "accident", he makes a solemn vow to unearth the truth.

As he delves deeper into the matter, he stumbles upon a web of love, violence, and betrayal.

It wasn't until I completed this book that I discovered it was Francis's first novel (he had previously penned a memoir). However, it definitely doesn't read like a debut.

It showcases all the characteristics of his eventual formula, yet it reads extremely well and is thoroughly enjoyable.

If you have already read several of his other works, you might not encounter many surprises. Nevertheless, I would still recommend it simply to observe where it all began.

You don't necessarily have to have a passion for horse-racing to appreciate this (or almost any) Francis novel. In fact, I couldn't even describe a steeplechase if my life depended on it.

Dick Francis might not be striving to win literary accolades or convey profound life-altering truths through his writing. However, he surely knows the art of crafting a captivating mystery story.

His heroes are invariably kind, tough, intelligent, and good-hearted. The plots he weaves are always engaging, pulling the reader in from the very beginning. Although the romances in his stories (and there is almost always one) can sometimes verge on being overly cheesy, they are still sweet. I find the world of British horse racing that he描绘的 (with all his characters being jockeys or having some connection to racing) to be a truly fascinating and exciting one.

I also have a particular fondness for Francis's writing style. His concise prose never calls attention to itself. He writes within his genre with great competence and never in an annoying manner.

Dead Cert happens to be the first of Francis's numerous mysteries. One aspect that Francis improved upon over time was the romance. In this particular book, it was indeed quite cheesy. Nevertheless, the basic plot was excellent, and I thoroughly enjoyed the book. Additionally, I actually found it extremely fascinating and somewhat refreshing to read a mystery that was written before the era of computers, cell phones, and DNA testing. Crime-solving was a completely different game back then.

Rainy weather and hailstorms have disrupted the power supply more than once, interrupting our over the phone reading of this book. However, Marco and I have finally completed this Dick Francis mystery from 1962.

Alan York, an amateur steeplechase rider, is first introduced to us during a race. His good friend, Bill Davidson, is the only rider ahead of him. But in a tragic moment, Bill and his horse fall while clearing a jump. Although the horse recovers, Bill succumbs to his injuries in the hospital a few hours later.

Was it a freak accident due to the foggy conditions on the course? Or was there something more malicious behind the fall? I'll give you three guesses, and two don't count!

The back cover of my edition describes it as: "In this chilling novel of vice and vengeance, a man suspects that his best friend was murdered ~~ and joins a manhunt in which he himself is the quarry."

I read this book many years ago, like many others on my bookshelves. But I couldn't recall the details or how it ended. So, when we discovered the identity of not only the main antagonist but also a secondary character that neither Marco nor I had suspected, we were both equally surprised.

We still have about six or seven books in our current Zapata Reading Club stack. But when it's time to create another one, I think I'll include a second Dick Francis title. I have a large collection of his books, which I managed to acquire during my years at the El Paso library book sales. However, I did prefer the earlier ones the most. I'll have to keep that in mind when the time comes!

Having only read a few of Dick Francis’ books, I am thoroughly enjoying reacquainting myself with his remarkable writings. “Dead Cert” holds a special place as Dick Francis' very first novel, and it truly is an excellent one. Francis, a highly successful jockey in his prime, retired and then masterfully utilized that in-depth knowledge to embark on a new career of writing books. His works typically involve horses or racing in some fascinating way. The stories he weaves are not only well crafted but also cleverly plotted, keeping the readers on the edge of their seats from start to finish. What's more, his characters are incredibly realistic and likable, making it easy for the readers to form an emotional connection with them. If you have never had the pleasure of reading Dick Francis, I wholeheartedly encourage you to give his books a chance. You are sure to be captivated by his unique storytelling and the vivid world he creates.

The great thing about crime fiction is the wide variety of milieux that the reader can become temporarily immersed in.

In one book, you’re on the case with an uxorious French policeman on a steamy summer night in Paris. In another, you’re with a principled young rabbi in suburban Massachusetts. In still another, you’re on the trail of a crook with a bolshie, idiosyncratic Dutchman on the streets of Amsterdam. And in the case of this book, you’re in the company of a talented amateur jockey from Rhodesia, on the National Hunt racing circuit.

My reading in crime fiction is quite broad. Some people prefer the hard boiled stuff. Some stick to Scandi. Others revel in the Golden Age. I’ll read crime fiction from any time and place, as long as the book itself is engaging. Of all the writers of varying types that I have sampled over the years in crime fiction, I would place Dick Francis (or “Dick Francis”, or Dick & Mary Francis, or Mary Francis, depending on your school of thought) right up towards the top of the pyramid.

This is the very first Dick Francis novel. It is remarkably assured and contains most of the hallmarks of the subsequent body of work. There are the extremely engaging descriptions of horse races. There is the self-effacing but brave and perspicacious hero, the neatly drawn love story, and the well-researched and intelligently depicted scenes based around the non-racing business world. The scene-setting and atmospheric stuff is wonderful, starting from the brilliant opening paragraph. The book also showcases another trait that characterizes the Francis books - a kind of authorial canniness that truly adds to the richness of the storytelling. It’s a canny choice, for instance, to have the hero coming from independent wealth, both for the way that it keeps him out of the shenanigans engaged in by some of the other jockeys and for the way that it feeds into the love story. It is a canny choice to take the time to carefully delineate the character and abilities of several different racehorses, both for the way that it takes us into the world of horse racing and for the way that the different horses subsequently act as de facto characters in the plot. This kind of authorial shrewdness, which pays off at different points in the story, is something that always strikes me when I read Dick Francis.

In short, it’s a cleverly thought-out, well-written, and absorbing thriller - the first in a long line of richly rewarding works. If you have never tried Dick Francis, do yourself a favor.