Hands down : a Dick Francis novel

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Title:

Hands down : a Dick Francis novel

Author:

Francis, Felix, author.

Francis, Dick, creator.

Series:

Dick Francis novels ;

Sid Halley ;

Series Number:

11.

Summary:

Sid Halley, a private investigator, has a new left hand, having had a transplant since his last appearance in Refusal. After receiving death threats, an ex-jockey trainer friend calls Sid to ask for his help, but Sid has his own problems to deal with; like recovering from surgery and saving his crumbling marriage. When his friend’s stable yard is torched, horses killed, and the friend is found dead, Sid can only blame himself for not helping sooner. The police think it’s suicide, but Sid is not convinced after his friend’s terrified phone calls. Heavy with a guilty heart, Sid starts to investigate and soon finds himself embroiled in a conspiracy that cuts to the very heart of the integrity of British horse racing. Can Sid figure out what happened to his friend, or will he be the next one that the killer targets? -- Amazon.

Edition:

First edition.

Physical Description:

295 pages ; 25 cm.

Genre:

Detective and mystery fiction.

Thrillers (Fiction)

Subject Term:

Halley, Sid (Fictitious character) -- Fiction.

Private investigators -- Fiction.

Murder -- Investigation -- Fiction.

Horse racing -- Fiction.

Horse trainers -- Fiction.

Arson -- Fiction.

Corruption investigation -- Fiction.

Geographic Term:

England -- Fiction.

Author(s):

Francis, Dick,

Publisher:

Crooked Lane,

Publication Date:

2022

ISBN:

9781639102945

Publication Information:

New York : Crooked Lane, 2022.

Call Number:

FRANCIS

Holds: Copies:

Available:*

Item Barcode	Collection	Call Number	Status	Item Holds
33607003643726	Adult Fiction	FRANCIS Felix	Searching... Unknown	Searching... Unavailable

Bound With These Titles

On Order

Summary

"The master of suspense and intrigue" (Country Life) is back with the next powerful installation in the Dick Francis series, featuring Sid Halley, perfect for fans of Harlan Coben and Michael Connelly.

Sid Halley, a private investigator, has a new left hand, having had a transplant since his last appearance in Refusal . After receiving death threats, an ex-jockey trainer friend calls Sid to ask for his help, but Sid has his own problems to deal with; like recovering from surgery and saving his crumbling marriage.

When his friend's stable yard is torched, horses killed, and the friend is found dead, Sid can only blame himself for not helping sooner. The police think it's suicide, but Sid is not convinced after his friend's terrified phone calls. Heavy with a guilty heart, Sid starts to investigate and soon finds himself embroiled in a conspiracy that cuts to the very heart of the integrity of British horse racing.

Can Sid figure out what happened to his friend, or will he be the next one that the killer targets?

Author Notes

The New York Times, The London Sunday Times and International bestseller, acclaimed author, Felix Francis , was born in Oxford, England, son of the famous mystery author, Dick Francis and his wife, Mary Francis. Felix graduated from London University. His initial career led him into physics, where he was a successful teacher of A Level Physics. But he could not deny that his family's gift of writing had been passed along to him, and he started his second career--as an author--where he found his knowledge of physics was a great advantage. His many other accomplishments include being an expert outdoorsman, marksman and pilot. Felix Francis resides in England with his wife, Debbie, their family and two Irish Setters and a Cavapoo.

Reviews (1)

Publisher's Weekly Review

Francis's excellent 12th horse-racing crime novel (after 2021's Iced) is a perfect homage to his father Dick's major continuing character, champion jockey-turned-PI Sid Halley. Sid's life is upended when his wife abruptly announces she's leaving him and taking their nine-year-old daughter with her. As Sid wonders whether their relationship is salvageable, Gary Bremner, a former competitor, contacts him. Bremner, who's now a trainer, claims his horses have been threatened, a fear vindicated when a fire at his stables kills several of the animals and apparently Bremner himself. Sid learns that an unknown agent has been imposing an additional fee for their services, making trainers' access to jockeys to ride in races contingent on the payment, and even directing some jockeys to deliberately lose, undermining the integrity of the turf. Despite having taken a step back from investigating, Sid plunges into the case, risking his life to save the sport he loves from a devastating scandal. Francis nicely balances his lead's personal challenges with his sleuthing. Fans of the original will hope for more of Felix Francis's Sid Halley. Agent: Ed Wilson, Johnson & Alcock (U.K.). (Nov.)