Dick Francis (1920–2010), 1962: Dead Cert

Abstract

Unlike many of his crime writer colleagues, Dick Francis’ series develops not around a common detective but around a common theme, namely the world of horse-racing. In his forty-plus racing thrillers, he focuses on various elements of the world of horse-racing. These novels combine Francis’ in-depth familiarity from his experiences as a champion jump jockey with thorough research into the specialty explored in each novel. Three of his novels, Blood Sport (1967), In the Frame (1976) and Twice Shy (1981), were adapted to film in 1989, by Deirdre Friel and Harvey Hart.