Dick Francis

If you have not read a Dick Francis novel, now is a good time to start. Francis takes you behind-the-scenes into the world of horse racing with a number of different characters: jockey, trainer, owner, accountant, artist, and private investigators, to name a few. Dick Francis was himself a professional steeplechase jockey winning more than 350 races and a grand champion in 1954. He won the Mystery Writers of America’s Edgar Award for Best Novel three times. Readers of any age who enjoy a good mystery will appreciate the detail of the racing world and the story lines.

If you like to start at the beginning, Dead Cert, was his first racing novel, but there is no need to read them in order. He wrote 36 novels and for years every March I would await the newest selection. Each title stands on its own and rarely does a character appear in more than one novel. The mysteries are fast paced with a strong appealing protagonist in his 20s or 30’s who is honorable with a high moral sense, and a high pain tolerance generally due to his rigorous and demanding years as a jockey.

With the renewed interest in horse racing after the Kentucky Derby and interest in Big Brown, this author is especially appealing. Francis is a consistent and reliable author, who writes a good story and is perfect for a summer read. -Reviewed by Rosie