Hands Down
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4.3 • 13 Ratings
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- $4.99
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- $4.99
Publisher Description
THRILLERS THAT RACE FROM THE VERY FIRST PAGE . . .
'Felix Francis' novels gallop along splendidly' Jilly Cooper
‘From winning post to top of the bestseller lists’ Sunday Times
An old friend in need, a dangerous conspiracy – a new case for Sid Halley…
Sid Halley, former British jump racing champion and private detective, is not having a good time. His wife Marina has decided she needs some time out of their marriage to think about the future and Sid is devastated. But then Gary Bremner, an ex-jockey trainer, calls him to ask for his help – he is being threatened by someone in the racing world and he needs a friend he can trust. However, the very next morning, Gary’s stable yard is torched, horses killed, and Gary has disappeared.
Determined to uncover the truth and to help his friend, Sid starts to investigate. He soon finds himself embroiled in a conspiracy that cuts to the very heart of the integrity of British horse racing, and then danger comes closer to home than ever.
Can Sid get to the bottom of what’s going on before he too becomes a victim, while, at the same time, saving his marriage?
Praise for Felix Francis's novels
‘As usual with a Francis, once I opened the book, I didn’t want to put it down… Felix’s resolution is darker and more shocking than his father would ever have contemplated, but reflects grittier times and changing tastes in fiction’ Country Life
‘He has become his own man as a purveyor of murder mysteries' The Racing Post
'The Francis flair is clear for all to see' Daily Mail
'From winning post to top of the bestseller list, time after time' Sunday Times
'The master of suspense and intrigue' Country Life
'A tremendous read' Woman's Own
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Francis's excellent 12th horse-racing crime novel (after 2021's Iced) is a perfect homage to his father Dick's major continuing character, champion jockey-turned-PI Sid Halley. Sid's life is upended when his wife abruptly announces she's leaving him and taking their nine-year-old daughter with her. As Sid wonders whether their relationship is salvageable, Gary Bremner, a former competitor, contacts him. Bremner, who's now a trainer, claims his horses have been threatened, a fear vindicated when a fire at his stables kills several of the animals and apparently Bremner himself. Sid learns that an unknown agent has been imposing an additional fee for their services, making trainers' access to jockeys to ride in races contingent on the payment, and even directing some jockeys to deliberately lose, undermining the integrity of the turf. Despite having taken a step back from investigating, Sid plunges into the case, risking his life to save the sport he loves from a devastating scandal. Francis nicely balances his lead's personal challenges with his sleuthing. Fans of the original will hope for more of Felix Francis's Sid Halley.
