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.

Page Turning Plots

Francis is a master storyteller, crafting well-researched stories without bogging down the plot with unnecessary details. Each story typically begins with a threat focused on a friend or family member of the hero, whose sense of loyalty and fair play compel him to become involved– thereby shifting the danger onto himself. Not trained to fight crime, the hero draws on his intelligence and innate sense of right and wrong to solve the mystery while trying to outwit an increasingly vicious adversary. Francis often hikes the tension level by having his protagonist realize who the killer is before the reader, and by leaving the safe outcome of the hero in some doubt.

Given Francis’ background and the topics of his first few books, many readers assume that he only writes mysteries about the world of horseracing and jockeys. Often, however, the horses are kept in the background and other topics, ranging from fine art (In the Frame) and fine wine (Proof) to movies (Smokescreen) and the world of finance (Banker) set the stage for another page-turning mystery. The geographic location of Francis’ stories also vary. He and his wife traveled extensively and Francis uses his observations to create believable characters and authentic settings ranging from England to the United States, South Africa, Australia and other parts of Europe.

Heroes and Villians

There is little ambiguity in a Francis thriller. The bad guys are evil through and through, but they are hard to discern–hiding their malevolence behind a seemingly friendly façade. While the violence isn’t “graphic,” stories include climatic confrontations in which the hero must summon the resilience and courage to endure the villain’s extreme cruelty. On the other hand, heroes are always good, although often misunderstood in their self-sufficiency and ability to be comfortable with themselves even as they live outside of the mainstream. Protagonists also usually exhibit a high degree of personal honor and loyalty that compels them to act even in the face of physical pain or psychological trauma. Francis’ use of first-person narration allows the reader to experience first-hand the character’s range of emotions and motivations–as well as the action and danger.

Awards, Bibilography

Among his many awards is the Crime Writers’ Association’s Cartier Diamond Dagger for his outstanding contribution to the crime genre. In 1996, Dick Francis was made a Mystery Writers of America Grand Master for a lifetime’s achievement.

Sid Halley Novels:

Odds Against (1965) LP
Whip Hand (1979) **
Come to Grief (1995) **, LP

Kit Fielding Novels:

Break In (1986) **
Bolt (1987) **

Other Novels:

Dead Cert (1962) **, LP
Nerve (1964) **
For Kicks (1965) **
Flying Finish (1966) **, LP
Blood Sport (1967) **, LP
Forfeit (1968) LP
Enquiry (1969) **
Rat Race (1971)
Bonecrack (1971) **
Smokescreen (1972) **
Slayride (1973)
Knockdown (1974) **
High Stakes (1975) **
In the Frame (1976) *, **
Risk (1977) **
Trial Run (1978)
Reflex (1981) *, **
Twice Shy (1982)
Banker (1983) **
The Danger (1984)
Proof (1985) **
Hot Money (1987) *, **
The Edge (1988) **
Straight (1989) **, LP
Longshot (1990) LP
Comeback (1991) **
Driving Force (1992) **, LP
Decider (1993) **, ***, LP
Wild Horses (1994) **, LP
To the Hilt (1996) **, LP
10 Lb. Penalty (1997) **, downloadable audiobook
Second Wind (1999) **, LP
Shattered (2000) LP

Other:

The Sport of Queens: The Autobiography of Dick Francis (1969)*
A Jockey’s Life: The Biography of Lester Piggott (1986) *
Field of Thirteen (1998) - Short Stories
The Dick Francis Treasury of Great Racing Stories, edited and introduced by Dick Francis and John Welcome (1989) 823.0108355 DIC

* Please request at Information Services Desk
** Also available as a cassette audiobook
*** Also available as a CD audiobook
LP Also available in Large Print

Readers Services
9/05
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