Dick Francis was a prolific author who passed away in February 2010, at age 90. He published 47 books, most of them mysteries, the last four written with his son Felix.
Francis's mystery novels are well known for their horse racing themes, a subject he came to naturally after his own career as a prize-winning jockey. He is the only author to win the Edgar Award three times.
I enjoy Francis's novels when I am in the mood for something very British. Those I have read are in red. Those currently on my TBR shelf are in blue.
The Sport of Queens: The Autobiography of Dick Francis (1957) (non-fiction)
Dead Cert (1962)
Nerve (1964)
For Kicks (1965)
Odds Against (1965) (featuring Sid Halley)
Flying Finish (1966)
Blood Sport (1967) (reviewed here)
Forfeit (1968) (Edgar winner)
Enquiry (1969)
Racing Man's Bedside Book (1969) (with John Welcome) (non-fiction)
Slay Ride (1970)
Rat Race (1970)
Bonecrack (1971)
Smokescreen (1972)
Knockdown (1974)
High Stakes (1975) (reviewed here)
In the Frame (1976)
Risk (1977)
Trial Run (1978)
Whip Hand (1979) (Edgar winner featuring Sid Halley)
Reflex (1980)
Twice Shy (1981)
Banker (1982)
The Danger (1983)
Proof (1984)
Break In (1985) (featuring Kit Fielding)
Bolt (1986) (featuring Kit Fielding)
Jockey's Life: The Biography of Lester Piggott (1986) (non-fiction)
Hot Money (1987)
The Edge (1988)
Straight (1989)
Longshot (1990)
Comeback (1991)
Driving Force (1992)
Decider (1993)
Wild Horses (1994)
Come to Grief (1995) (Edgar winner featuring Sid Halley)
To the Hilt (1996)
10 lb Penalty (1997)
Field of 13 (1998) (short stories)
Second Wind (1999) (reviewed here)
Shattered (2000)
Under Orders (2006) (featuring Sid Halley)
Dead Heat (2007) (with Felix Francis)
Silks (2008) (with Felix Francis)
Even Money (2009) (with Felix Francis)
Crossfire (2010) (with Felix Francis)
NOTE
Last updated on January 7, 2019.
OTHER DICK FRANCIS READERS
I have and have read all of his work. My favorites are Proof, Straight and Hot Money. There were only a couple that I thought were less pleasurable. All are worth reading if you like the style.
ReplyDeleteI have some of his paperbacks, brought with me from England. Time to reread methinks.
ReplyDeleteI'm ashamed to admit that I haven't even heard of him! Thanks for introducing him to me.
ReplyDeleteI have read quite a few of his books over the years, but, I haven't read one in the last few years. I don't know why, because I have always enjoyed his books. I think I will see if I can find any on CDs and listen to them in the evenings. I am getting hooked on books on Tape or CDs, to pass the evenings away, since I can't find anything on TV that interests me, anymore.
ReplyDeleteKathy -- Wow! I am impressed. You inspire me!
ReplyDeleteSheila -- It would be cool to have English versions since he strikes me as a very English author.
Shelley -- If you like mysteries that are clever but not too creepy, you may want to give Francis a try.
Ann -- My library had several on unabridged CD. That's what got me hooked on them. I'm a big audiobook fan.
I hail from the UK and in my younger days read just about every Dick Francis book that was published.
ReplyDeleteThe plots were never very deep or dastardly, but there was just something about them that made them compelling.
I re-discovered the books, with the publication of 'Crossfire', which was one of the titles Felix, his younger son, helped him work on, before his death.
Finding this link and reading all the comments, has made me want to go out and start reading them all over again.
Thank for the memories.
Yvonne