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Dick Francis (1920–2010)

Author of To the Hilt

253+ Works 60,970 Members 1,006 Reviews 168 Favorited

About the Author

Dick Francis was born in Wales on October 31, 1920. Because his father was a professional steeplechase jockey and a stable manager, Francis grew up around horses, and after a stint as a pilot in the Royal Air Force during World War II, he became a steeplechase jockey himself, turning professional show more in 1948. He was named champion jockey of the 1953-54 racing season by the British National Hunt after winning more than 350 races and was retained as jockey to the queen mother for four seasons. When he retired from racing in 1957 at the age of 36, Francis went to work as a racing correspondent for the Sunday Express, a London paper, where he worked for 16 years. In the early sixties, he decided to combine his love of mysteries with his knowledge of the racing world, and published Dead Cert in 1962. Set mostly in the racing world, he has written more than 40 novels including Forfeit, Blood Sport, Slay-Ride, Odds Against, Flying Finish, Smoke Screen, High Stakes, and Long Shot. He wrote his last four books Dead Heat, Silks, Even Money, and Crossfire with his son Felix Francis. He has received numerous awards including the Silver Dagger award from Britain's Crime Writers Association for For Kicks, the Gold Dagger award for Whip Hand, the Diamond Dagger award in 1990, and three Edgar awards. He died on February 14, 2010 at the age of 89. (Bowker Author Biography) show less

Includes the names: D. Frensis, Dik Frensis, Dick Francis

Image credit: Copyright Eye On Books.

Series

Works by Dick Francis

To the Hilt (1996) 1,911 copies, 29 reviews
Decider (1993) 1,749 copies, 23 reviews
Under Orders (2006) 1,742 copies, 47 reviews
Come to Grief (1995) 1,732 copies, 26 reviews
10-lb. Penalty (1997) 1,732 copies, 20 reviews
Wild Horses (1994) 1,708 copies, 16 reviews
Shattered (2000) 1,683 copies, 21 reviews
Hot Money (1987) 1,670 copies, 24 reviews
The Edge (1988) 1,663 copies, 19 reviews
Straight (1989) 1,588 copies, 25 reviews
Proof (1985) 1,563 copies, 29 reviews
Longshot (1990) 1,552 copies, 24 reviews
Second Wind (1999) 1,533 copies, 22 reviews
Bolt (1986) 1,506 copies, 21 reviews
Driving Force (1992) — Author — 1,498 copies, 24 reviews
Break In (1985) 1,477 copies, 19 reviews
Comeback (1991) 1,446 copies, 16 reviews
Banker (1982) 1,431 copies, 25 reviews
Reflex (1980) 1,425 copies, 36 reviews
Field of Thirteen (1998) 1,383 copies, 22 reviews
The Danger (1983) 1,381 copies, 22 reviews
Whip Hand (1979) 1,359 copies, 20 reviews
Dead Cert (1962) 1,323 copies, 22 reviews
Dead Heat (2007) 1,308 copies, 39 reviews
For Kicks (1965) 1,252 copies, 22 reviews
Twice Shy (1982) 1,223 copies, 18 reviews
Nerve (1964) 1,199 copies, 25 reviews
In the Frame (1976) 1,199 copies, 25 reviews
High Stakes (1975) 1,164 copies, 21 reviews
Odds Against (1965) 1,161 copies, 20 reviews
Bonecrack (1971) 1,139 copies, 15 reviews
Smokescreen (1972) 1,139 copies, 17 reviews
Rat Race (1970) 1,123 copies, 18 reviews
Enquiry (1969) 1,116 copies, 15 reviews
Blood Sport (1967) 1,116 copies, 22 reviews
Flying Finish (1966) 1,099 copies, 13 reviews
Risk (1977) 1,093 copies, 9 reviews
Slay Ride (1973) 1,093 copies, 17 reviews
Silks (2008) 1,089 copies, 36 reviews
Forfeit (1968) 1,057 copies, 18 reviews
Knock Down (1974) 1,041 copies, 11 reviews
Trial Run (1978) 1,028 copies, 11 reviews
Even Money (2009) 836 copies, 31 reviews
Crossfire (2010) 782 copies, 26 reviews
Racing Classics (1995) 73 copies, 1 review
The Dick Francis Treasury of Great Racing Stories (1989) — Editor; Contributor — 61 copies
Spring Fever (1993) 39 copies, 1 review
The Dick Francis Complete Treasury of Great Racing Stories (1991) — Editor; Contributor — 34 copies, 1 review
The New Treasury of Great Racing Stories (1991) — Editor; Contributor — 20 copies
Field of Thirteen [and] Shattered (2005) 18 copies, 1 review
Nerve [and] Smokescreen (2004) 17 copies
Enquiry [and] Reflex (2004) 16 copies, 1 review
Flying Finish [and] For Kicks (1986) 15 copies, 1 review
Knock Down [and] Bonecrack (2004) 14 copies
Three Favourites (1978) 14 copies
Forfeit [and] Blood Sport (2004) 13 copies
Longshot / Risk (1977) 13 copies, 1 review
Straight / Banker (1990) 12 copies
10 lb. Penalty [Abridged Audio] (1997) — Author — 11 copies, 1 review
In the Frame [and] Dead Cert (1962) 10 copies, 1 review
Decider [and] High Stakes (2006) 10 copies
Straight / Trial Run (2007) 10 copies, 1 review
The Edge [and] Comeback (2002) 8 copies
Proof: BBC (BBC Radio Presents) (1993) 6 copies, 1 review
Flying Finish/Rat Race (1995) 3 copies
High Stakes Money (1977) 2 copies
The Hated 2 copies
The First Year 2 copies
Forever 2 copies
Dead Ringer 2 copies
Nachtmerries (1989) 2 copies
Střepy (2010) 1 copy
Oma lõbuks 1 copy
El doble o nada (1983) 1 copy
Argosy 1966--October (1966) 1 copy
Finiš 1 copy
The Racing Man's Bedside Book (1969) — Editor — 1 copy
libros condensados 1 copy, 1 review
Med livet som innsats (1998) 1 copy
Ambitii (2000) 1 copy
High Voltage 1 copy

Associated Works

Masterpieces of Mystery and Suspense (1988) — Contributor — 201 copies, 2 reviews
The Oxford Book of Villains (1992) — Contributor — 140 copies
Reader's Digest Condensed Books 1992 v02 (1992) 83 copies, 3 reviews
Ross Macdonald Selects Great Stories of Suspense (1974) — Contributor — 73 copies
Verdict of 13 (1978) — Contributor — 72 copies, 2 reviews
1st Culprit: A Crime Writers' Association Annual (1992) — Contributor — 60 copies
Reader's Digest Select Editions 2001 v02 #254 (2001) — Author — 53 copies
Reader's Digest Condensed Books 1985 v02 (1985) 45 copies, 2 reviews
Reader's Digest Condensed Books 1986 v02 (1986) — Author, some editions — 37 copies
Mysterious Pleasures (2003) — Contributor — 35 copies, 2 reviews
Reader's Digest Condensed Books 1988 v02 (1988) — Author — 35 copies
Reader's Digest Condensed Books 1989 v02 (1989) 33 copies, 1 review
Reader's Digest Select Editions 2007 v02 #290 (2007) — Contributor — 24 copies
Murder at the Races (1995) — Contributor — 22 copies
The Verdict of Us All (2006) — Foreword — 21 copies
A Feast of Stories (1996) — Contributor — 14 copies, 1 review
The Gourmet Crook Book (1976) — Contributor — 13 copies
RDSELP v187 Crossfire | Calling Invisible Women (2014) — Author — 11 copies
RDSELP v160 A Single Thread | Dead Heat (2009) 10 copies, 1 review
Galaxy Science Fiction 1953 May, Vol. 6, No. 2 (1953) — Illustrator — 10 copies
Galaxy Science Fiction 1957 June, Vol. 14, No. 2 (1957) — Illustrator — 9 copies
Escape Stories (1980) — Contributor — 9 copies
Galaxy Science Fiction 1957 April, Vol. 13, No. 6 (1957) — Illustrator — 7 copies
Slay-Ride | Curiosity Didn't Kill the Cat | The Lester Affair (1974) — Contributor; Contributor — 6 copies
John Creasey's Crime Collection, 1977 (1977) — Contributor — 5 copies
Proof | Birds of a Feather | A Trail of Ashes (1985) — Contributor — 3 copies
Best Detective Stories 1980 (1980) — Contributor — 3 copies
RDSELP v115 Hawke's Cove | Shattered (2001) — Author — 2 copies
John Creasey's Crime Collection, 1980 (1980) — Contributor — 2 copies
Murder Most British [abridged audio] — Contributor — 1 copy
Banker | Murder in High Places | The Terrible Tide (1983) — Contributor — 1 copy

Tagged

20th century (228) Action/Adventure Stories (163) amateur detective (190) animals (137) audio (129) audiobook (229) British (763) British mystery (156) crime (1,923) crime fiction (812) Crime Stories (254) detective (606) Dick Francis (705) ebook (164) England (1,071) English (161) Equestrian/Sport Stories (280) fiction (6,531) Francis (394) hardcover (249) horse racing (2,748) horses (2,199) jockeys (338) murder (135) mysteries (244) mystery (9,708) mystery fiction (182) mystery-thriller (195) novel (698) own (293) paperback (349) PB (197) racing (657) read (1,024) short stories (161) Sid Halley (222) suspense (578) thriller (1,687) Thriller/Suspense Stories (269) to-read (611)

Common Knowledge

Members

Discussions

Third Race at the LT Racetrack: Book 1, Banker in 75 Books Challenge for 2021 (February 2021)
Chat in Book Discussion : Proof by Dick Francis (December 2017)
Second Wind, Dick Francis in World Reading Circle (February 2013)

Reviews

Tom Forsyth comes back from Afghanistan sans one foot. On leave for 6 months he goes to the one place they have to take him in... home. But the world of horseracing isn't as simple as he thought it would be and before he knows it he is up to his neck in danger.
I had read half of this book once before. I can't imagine why I didn't finish it. It was entertaining and a fun read with little military tidbits sprinkled throughout. A pleasure.
½
 
Flagged
elorin | 25 other reviews | Dec 11, 2024 |
TW: animal abuse
This is the second time I've read this Dick Francis novel and I had forgotten how brutal it was emotionally. Come to Grief is Sid Halley #3, and Sid is on the case looking for someone who has been cutting a foot off of horses, in almost every case leading to the horses being put to death. His prime suspect is a long-time friend and fellow ex-jockey. Meanwhile Sid's young friend Rachel has had a leukemia relapse.
This novel was hard for me to stomach at times and extremely emotional. It was supremely well written and I definitely give it 4 stars. Powerful stuff.… (more)
 
Flagged
elorin | 25 other reviews | Dec 6, 2024 |
Whip Hand
Sid Halley returns. In company with Chico from [Odds Against] Sid is an investigator specializing in Britain's world of racing. But sometimes being good at what you do can be too much of a good thing. Looking into 2 year old horses that don't live up to their potential, syndicates with seedy organizers, and his ex-wife's con of an ex-boyfriend is a lot to juggle, but he tackles it all with aplomb.
I liked the story. It had a lot going on but it wasn't too much. I really appreciated the exploration of Sid's emotions and how he faced fear head on.
Trial Run
Randall Drew is asked to go to Moscow by the Prince. The unspoken brotherhood of horses opens doors in the USSR that otherwise would remain closed, and uncovers a dangerous series of clues.
Dated, cold war Moscow, but illuminating nonetheless and a quick read.
Twice Shy
The Derry brothers both face a criminal, Angelo, and each one handles him a bit differently. Two shorter stories with a common thread.
I enjoyed the stories but felt they were lacking some of the thrilling elements I expect from Francis.
… (more)
 
Flagged
elorin | Nov 26, 2024 |
Sid Halley is a depressed ex-jockey working for a private investigation agency. His father-in-law puts him on to a possible racecourse takeover to jolt him out of his malaise. And then Sid takes off!
I enjoyed this novel not least of which because I know there are more Sid Halley novels to enjoy. It was thrilling but gut wrenching with the brief torture scenes.
½
 
Flagged
elorin | 19 other reviews | Nov 24, 2024 |

Lists

Awards

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Edgar Wallace Contributor
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Sherwood Anderson Contributor
Beryl Markham Contributor
Richard Findley Contributor
William Fain Contributor
J.P. Marquand Contributor
John Galsworthy Contributor
Arthur Conan Doyle Contributor
Donn Bryne Contributor
C.C.L. Browne Contributor
J. C. Squire Contributor
Damon Runyon Contributor
Maurice Gee Contributor
A. B. Paterson Contributor
Gordon Grand Contributor
Simon Prebble Narrator
Truls Hoff Translator
Aulis Rantanen Translator
Erkki Hakala Translator
Astrid Lundgren Translator
Tony Britton Narrator
Adrian Houston Photographer
David Case Narrator
Malte Krutzsch Translator
Gerry Daly Cover artist
Colin Thomas Photographer
Soini Talaskivi Translator
Martin Jarvis Narrator, Reader
Russell Cheyne Photographer
John Knights Photographer
Leslie Howling Photographer
Chris Yates Cover artist
Rolando Murillo Cover designer
P.H. Ottenhof Translator
Tom Stimpson Photographer
Jyri Raivio Translator
C. Knol Ottenhof Translator
Sheila Perry Cover designer
Ingrid Tóth Translator
Auke Leistra Translator
Greg Montgomery Cover artist
Steven Ferlauto Cover designer
Tilly Schel Translator
Kersti Juva Translator
Lisbeth Renner Translator
Anja Haglund Translator
Tony Westermayr Translator
Michaela Link Translator
Michael Trevillion Photographer
Mick Ford Narrator
Gary Embury Cover artist

Statistics

Works
253
Also by
154
Members
60,970
Popularity
#237
Rating
½ 3.8
Reviews
1,006
ISBNs
2,436
Languages
23
Favorited
168

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