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Sid Halley Series

This series follows the journey of a former racing champion whose life takes a turn towards criminal investigation after an injury and a broken marriage. The characters delve into a dark world of fraud and intrigue, where every step could be their last. The protagonist's pursuit of justice leads him to dangerous places where he confronts ruthless adversaries. Readers can expect thrilling stories filled with twists and unexpected revelations.

Win, Place, or Show
Refusal
Under Orders
Come to Grief
Whip Hand
Odds against

Recommended Reading Order

  1. Odds against

    • 352 pages
    • 13 hours of reading

    Ex-champion steeplechase jockey Sid Haley is now a sleuth. As the story opens he has just been shot in the stomach during the course of his duties as a private investigator, working - or rather, idling - in a firm which keeps him employed, thanks tothe old boy network. Convalescing with indecent and painful haste, Sid finds the pace growing steadily hotter as he investigates the cunningly contrived decline of a racecourse, and comes to close and spine-chilling grips with the crooks responsible.

    Odds against1
    4.1

  2. Whip Hand

    • 378 pages
    • 14 hours of reading

    There are two worlds in racing: winning and losing. Private detective Sid Halley has gone from one to the other - fast. First his career as a jockey ended when he lost his hand in a fall. Then his wife said a cold goodbye. Now he's on the trail of thugs who crush losers with vicious pleasure. These are people who aim to win at any price.

    Whip Hand2
    4.1

  3. Come to Grief

    Sid Halley, the ex-champion jockey turned investigator who appeared in Odds Against and Whip Hand is back, facing new dilemmas, new dangers and new deeply demanding decisions.

    Come to Grief3
    4.0

  4. Under Orders

    • 256 pages
    • 9 hours of reading

    Former Champion Jockey Sid Halley knows the perils of racing all too well--but in his day, jockeys didn't usually cross the finishing line with three .38 rounds in the chest. And this is precisely how he finds jockey Huw Walker-- who had won the coveted Triumph Hurdle only a few hours earlier. Just moments before the gruesome discovery, Halley had been called upon by Lord Enstone to make discreet inquiries into why his horses appeared to be on a permanent losing streak. Are races being fixed? Are bookies taking a cut? And if so, are trainers and jockeys playing a danger-, ous game with stakes far higher than they are realistic? Halley's quest for answers draws him even deeper into the dark side of the race game, in a life-or-death power play that will push him to his limits--both on and off the track. In his first new novel for six years, Dick Francis returns to prove once again that he is the Grand Master of thriller writing.

    Under Orders4
    3.9

  5. Refusal

    When Sir Richard Stewart, chair of the horseracing authority, demands ex-investigator Sid Halley examine some suspicious races, he is goven a firm 'no'. Sid retired six years ago - and nothing will make him go back. But he's wrong.

    Refusal5
    3.9

Related books

  • Win, Place, or Show

    • 656 pages
    • 23 hours of reading

    A former top jockey turned detective, Sid Halley navigates the treacherous world of horse racing after a career-ending accident. In "Odds Against," he tackles his first case involving a network of criminals. The sequel, "Whip Hand," sees him investigating the poor performance of racehorses for a trainer's wife, while grappling with his past. In "Come to Grief," Halley's loyalty is tested as he suspects a beloved friend of violent crimes, leading to public backlash and increasing danger. Each installment highlights Halley's resilience and the dark side of the racing industry.

    Win, Place, or Show
    4.2

  • Sid Halley omnibus : Odds against ; Whip hand ; Come to grief

    All three Sid Halley novels in one edition, for fans and new readers alike; Odds Against: Champion jockey Sid Halley gave up racing when his hand was smashed. As he soon discovers, life as a private eye could be a lot worse, especially when a ruthless property dealer has plans for Seabury racetrack - plans that set high odds against a novice detective staying alive... 'A plot that goes with the pace of a champion hurdler' Evening Standard Whip Hand: There are two worlds in racing: winning and losing. Sid Halley is on the trail of thugs who aim to win at any price. There's a syndicate of owners with a sideline in violent kidnapping and a bookmaker whose hatred of favourites goes one deathly step too far. Halley must return to winning ways. To lose is to die.. 'Superb...this is Mr Francis's best book. And that's high praise' Sunday Mirror Come To Grief: Sid Halley has uncovered an obnoxious crime committed by a friend. On the first day of the friend's trial, at which Sid is to be as a witness, something happens which leads to days of hard detection and heart-searching torment. Troubled, but courageous, Sid Halley is unwilling to admit defeat... 'Francis is firmly in the saddle, leavi

    Sid Halley omnibus : Odds against ; Whip hand ; Come to grief
    4.7