Synopses & Reviews
Dick Franciss beloved investigator Sid Halley returns in the riveting new mystery by New York Timesbestselling author Felix Francis. Six years ago, investigator Sid Halley retired for good. Hed been harassed, beaten, shot, even lost a hand to his investigating business, and enough was enough. For the sake of his wife and new daughter he gave up that life of danger and uncertainty, and he thought nothing would ever lure him back into the game.
He thought wrong. Sir Richard Stewart, chairman of the racing authority, begs Sid to investigate a series of dodgy races. Sid adamantly refuses, but the following day, Sir Richard is found dead under suspicious circumstances. And then a man with an Irish accent contacts Sid, telling him to deliver a whitewashed report about the suspected race-fixing . . . or else.
At first Sid ignores these warnings, knowing that once he submits to this criminal bully, he will forever be under his control. But as the intimidation tactics escalateand Sids own family comes under threatSid realizes he must meet his enemy head-on . . . or he might pay the ultimate price for his refusal.
Review
“[Felix Francis] has one priceless advantage. He couldn’t have had a better teacher.”—
The Washington Times “A suspenseful read. Francis aficionados will hope that Felix chooses to carry on the family tradition on his own.”—Publishers Weekly on Crossfire
Review
Praise for Dick Franciss Refusal
“To the delight of Dick/Felix Francis fans, [Sid] Halley gets back into investigations after an eight-year hiatus . . . Its the kind of page turner that fans of either Francis have come to expect.”—Sacramento Bee
“In REFUSAL, [Felix Francis] has found a strong voice and confident style . . . in the same, comforting, ever-so-British style of his father, Francis assures readers that integrity will prevail.”—The Plain Dealer
“A fast-paced, highly professional evenings entertainment.”—Kirkus Reviews
“This is fascinating reading on every level, from the neatly calibrated plot, moving from suspense to terror, to all the details of the racing world Francis provides. Halley is now, as before, an utterly complex, interest-holding character. And the final, moral turn that Francis makes of “refusal” is brilliant. A heroic return for Sid Halley.”—Booklist (starred review)
“Francis successfully resurrects one of his late fathers most popular creations and only series character—disabled jockey-turned-PI Sid Halley . . . Longtime fans will be hard put to tell this gripping thriller from the senior Franciss work.”—Publishers Weekly
Praise for the Dick Francis novels by Felix Francis
Bloodline
“Francis knows how to control this wild run of a plot and also knows how to create a conflicted character in the midst of crisis. A stunning addition to the family line.”—Booklist (starred review)
“With “Gamble” in 2011 and now “Bloodline,” Felix Francis shows that the apple hasnt fallen far from the tree…the story unfolds with the suspense and insistent pace readers expect from their annual Francis fix.”—Washington Times
“Francis ably follows in the footsteps of his father, Dick Francis, with his second stand-alone set in the English horse racing world… Fans will have a hard time distinguishing this solid thriller from the fathers work.”—Publishers Weekly
Gamble
“[Felix] Francis shares his fathers gift for brisk storytelling.”
—Publishers Weekly
“Fans of Dick Francis suspense masterpieces should rejoice: Felix has produced a mystery with a racing setting (the Grand National, no less); a retired but still yearning ex-jockey as the detective; and an intriguing mix of racing and other business.”
—Booklist
"Gamble has all the things that loyal readers have anticipated in their annual Francis fix: a taut and intelligent story full of suspense, danger and mystery in spare and fast-moving prose that keeps readers' attention . . . Francis novels, under new management, will continue to find themselves at the very top levels of genre fiction.”
—Washington Times
Review
Praise for Dick Francis's Damage by Felix Francis
“Felix Francis latest mystery does the family tradition proud…a vivid and fascinating read.”—Washington Times
“Franciss fourth solo outing ranks with the best of his late fathers thrillers set in the British horse racing world. The compelling main storyline deserves high marks for originality…”—Publishers Weekly (starred review)
“Felix Francis wields all of his father's tools of the trade here, telling a satisfying story of murder and intrigue that barrels along without losing sight of the details . . . this satisfying novel is worthy of the Francis name.”—Shelf Awareness
“Francis expertly choreographs Jeff's extended cat-and-mouse duel…Fans of both thrillers and horse racing will be on tenterhooks…”—Kirkus Reviews
“Felix is a master plotter and suspense builder. A wonderful feature of this book is the wealth of detail Francis provides about racing…Another Francis thriller in which danger and suspense build with each scene.”—Booklist
“[Felix] has the Francis formula down pat, with descriptions of the horse-racing industry real and exciting, and character analysis deep and penetrating...sharp and insightful…all the characterizations are acute, as is the plotting, and the novel is highly recommended.”—Crimespree Magazine
“This is the fourth incredible solo novel written by Felix Francis, son of the eminent mystery novelist Dick Francis, and in this latest story, the action and suspense are right on target. . . . An extremely good story for the mystery lover, and most especially the horseracing fan. With a fascinating plot, Felix Francis continues to prove that he owns the wonderful writing style of his famous dad; yet he still has the fresh voice that allows him to carve a niche in the literary world that is all his own. Readers can keep looking forward to the next mystery that will open up the gates and unveil the underbelly of the racetracks of England.”—Suspense Magazine
Praise for Dick Franciss Refusal
“To the delight of Dick/Felix Francis fans, [Sid] Halley gets back into investigations after an eight-year hiatus. . . . Its the kind of page-turner that fans of either Francis have come to expect.” —The Sacramento Bee
“This is fascinating reading on every level, from the neatly calibrated plot, moving from suspense to terror, to all the details of the racing world Francis provides.” —Booklist (starred review)
“[Francis] has found a strong voice and confident style. . . . [I]n the same, comforting, ever-so-British style of his father, Francis assures readers that integrity will prevail.” —Cleveland Plain Dealer
Review
Praise for Felix Francis “[Felix Francis] has one priceless advantage. He couldnt have had a better teacher.”—The Washington Times
“Francis ably follows in the footsteps of his father, Dick Francis…Fans will have a hard time distinguishing this solid thriller from the fathers work.”—Publishers Weekly
Synopsis
Felix Francis continues his father's New York Times- bestselling legacy with another edge-of-your-seat read that's classic Francis.
Nicholas Foxy Foxton, a former jockey who suffered a career- ending injury, is out for a day at the Grand National races when his friend and coworker Herb Kovak is murdered, execution style, right in front of him-and 60,000 other potential witnesses. Foxton and Kovak were both independent financial advisers at Lyall & Black, a firm specializing in extreme-risk investments.
As he struggles to come to terms with Kovak's seemingly inexplicable death, Foxton begins to question everything, from how well he knew his friend to how much he understands about his employer. Was Kovak's murder a case of mistaken identity...or something more sinister?
Synopsis
One of the youngest winners of the Grand National, Nick “Foxy” Foxton suffered a near-fatal injury that cut short his career. Years later, he’s out for a day at the Grand National races when his colleague, Herb Kovack, is shot at point-blank range right in front of him. Like the police, Nick is baffled: Why would anyone kill such an apparently gentle soul?
Then Nick finds a threatening note in the dead man’s coat, and he begins to doubt how well he really knew his friend. And on discovering that Herb named him beneficiary in his will, Nick wonders why he’s been entrusted with the legacy. Is this a generous gift from a friend, or is it, in fact, a poisoned chalice?
Synopsis
Felix Francis is back with another edge-of-your-seat thriller, in the classic Dick Francis tradition.
Undercover investigator Jeff Hinkley is assigned by the British Horseracing Authority to look into the activities of a suspicious racehorse trainer, but as hes tailing his quarry through the Cheltenham Racing Festival, the last thing he expects to witness is a gruesome murder. Could it have something to do with the reason the trainer was banned in the first placethe administration of illegal drugs to his horses?
Then many more horses test positive for prohibited stimulants, and someone starts making demands, threatening to completely destroy the integrity of the racing industry. In order to limit the damage to the sport, its critical that Jeff find the perpetrator . . . but hell soon learn hes up against someone who will stop at nothing to prevail.
About the Author
New York Times bestselling author Felix Francis is the younger of Dick Franciss two sons. During the last forty years Felix assisted with the research of many of the Dick Francis novels, not least Twice Shy, Shattered, and Under Orders. Since 2006, Felix has taken a more significant role in the writing, first with Dead Heat and then increasingly with the bestsellers Silks, Even Money, and Crossfire, all father-son collaborations. He continued his fathers legacy with Dick Franciss Refusal, Gamble and Bloodline.