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Dick Francis

Dick Francis

"But one discarded dreams and got dressed, and made what one could of the day."

Born in Wales, Francis was a wildly successful jockey until an freak accident during Britain’s prestigious Grand National Steeplechase left him unable to continue racing. “Retired” at age 36, he responded to interest in his career with an autobiography. He also began using his knowledge of racing to write about the sport for the Sunday Express newspaper. The economic realities of raising a family led Francis to try his hand at mystery writing, and in 1962 Dead Cert was published. It was an instant hit and Francis went on to write 41 international best sellers.

What genre does Dick Francis write?

He wrote crime and mystery thrillers, often set in and around the world of horse racing.

How many books did he write and which book should I start with?

He authored 41 international best sellers. A good place to start is Dead Cert, his debut novel published in 1962.

Are his novels standalone or part of a series?

Many of his novels are standalone thrillers, but he also created recurring characters, most notably jockey-turned-detective Sid Halley, who appears in several books.

Which books feature the character Sid Halley?

Sid Halley appears in multiple novels, including Odds Against, Whiphand and Come to Grief; these three are collected together in a Sid Halley omnibus.

Do I need knowledge of horse racing to enjoy his books?

No. While the racing world provides the setting and technical detail, the plots and characters are written to be accessible to general readers.

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