Dick Francis is a prime example of the old writing adage to "Write what you know." He had an in-depth knowledge of horses, inside and out. His main characters encompass almost every aspect of the British horseracing business. There are jockeys, ranging from beginners to champions, trainers, stable boys, bloodstock agents, and more. As far as I can tell, the only vocation he missed was that of a valet, the men in charge of a jockey's gear. Even his earliest books were well-plotted, with a good pace, interesting characters, and they kept me captivated until the last page. After writing several excellent mysteries, he hit the bestseller lists with REFLEX and continued to do so consistently. Dean Koontz, in his book WRITING BEST-SELLING FICTION, attributed this to his publishers finally giving his books extensive advertising. However, I believe an additional factor was that he began regularly including a second interesting subject alongside the horsiness. This could be photography, computer programming, gemstones, the wine business, and so on. He had done this to some extent in previous books, but from REFLEX on, the secondary subject was thoroughly researched and构成了故事的很大一部分. He had a remarkable talent for weaving an incredible amount of information into his storylines and making it both interesting and enjoyable to read. I'm a teetotaler, but I found his book PROOF absolutely fascinating.

This first book of the series throws you right into the action, in the middle of a steeplechase that suddenly goes horribly wrong. In search of the truth, our hero gets drawn deeper and deeper into a web of evil, and the end of the book (like almost all of his other books) becomes a harrowing, nail-biting ride to a thrilling conclusion.

If you enjoy good mysteries, you can't go wrong with these, even if you're not particularly interested in horses. A book by Dick Francis is always a "sure thing."

4 Stars

As jockey Alan York's gaze fixed on the back of Bill Davidson, who was astride the magnificent horse Admiral, there was an eerie difference. Before his rival could reach the last hurdle, he was already lifeless. Alan was well aware that racing carried inherent dangers, but he also knew that Bill's death was no mere accident. It was the kind of knowledge that could potentially cost a man his life....

Dead Cert by Dick Francis is a masterfully crafted tale that weaves together elements of deception, hit men, murder, hidden agendas, suspicion, secrets, thrilling action, palpable tension, mystery, and nail-biting suspense, all set against the backdrop of horse racing and filled with dramatic developments. This combination made for an utterly intriguing read.

->2023 Reading Challenge.

->Glennie's Collection

Dick Francis novels were a familiar presence in our household during my childhood. Both of my parents adored his books. He was among the first 'adult' reads that I delved into at that time, and over the years, I have devoured everything he has written. I vividly remember that every time my mother read one of his books, she would share stories about him,讲述他如何从一名皇家空军飞行员转变为女王母亲最喜爱的骑师，最后退休成为一名记者/作家。

Since my mother passed away over a year ago, I have finally been making my way through her extensive book collection. I decided to incorporate reading her entire collection into my reading challenge for the next couple of years (as she had an enormous collection), as well as using it as a way to pay tribute to my mum, who was such an avid reader..... Reading her collection of books has unearthed a plethora of memories, mostly centered around our shared passion for reading. I am eternally grateful that she passed on her love of reading to me.

Dick Francis' first novel was a significant milestone in his literary career.

It marked the beginning of a long and successful journey in the world of crime fiction.

The novel was likely to have introduced readers to the unique style and themes that would become characteristic of Francis' work.

His ability to create engaging characters and thrilling plots set him apart from other authors in the genre.

With his first novel, Francis established himself as a talented writer and laid the foundation for a series of best-selling books that would captivate audiences for decades to come.

Readers were drawn to the vivid descriptions of the racing world and the complex mysteries that unfolded within it.

The novel's success not only brought Francis critical acclaim but also a loyal following of fans who eagerly awaited each new release.

Overall, Dick Francis' first novel was a remarkable achievement that set the stage for his remarkable literary legacy.

My first encounter with Dick Francis was truly a memorable one.

Although it was my initial foray into his works, the narrator Simon Prebble made the experience all the more enjoyable. His narration was, as always, of the highest caliber.

The book itself pleasantly surprised me. I thoroughly relished listening to it and delving into the world of steeple chasing.

The character of Narrator Alan York found himself in several precarious situations. It was fascinating to hear how he managed to extricate himself from them, especially amid the escalating violence of the shady organization demanding protection money and bribing jockeys to "stop horses."

I also had a soft spot for Alan's touching relationship with his father.

However, my one criticism lies in the resolution of the romance. In fact, everything about the romance left something to be desired. I find it difficult to envision a long and successful future for that relationship.

Overall, despite this minor drawback, I still highly recommend this audiobook for its engaging story and excellent narration.