Dick Francis

I said I read other genres besides science fiction, and mysteries is one of them. Dick Francis is a master of the genre-and one of my favorite writers of mysteries of all time. I first started reading his books in the 70's, when I was forced to, because it seemed there was nothing else to read in the house at the time. It was the summer, I was in middle school and staying up late every night-watching TV and reading-I had read my favorite books and hadn't gone to the bookstore or the library...what to do? I had avoided Francis because the whole idea of mysteries set in the world of horse racing just turned me off. Why would I want to read those? And despite urgings from my sister and my Mom, I avoided them until that summer. I read one out of sheer desperation and...well, let's say I devoured every single one I could find and then forced a relative to take me to either the store or the library (probably the library because I don't think I had enough money for a book-comic books, yes but not paperbacks), in order to get the ones we didn't have. I have to laugh because my brother did the same thing when I talked him into reading Francis the next year-he did not want to read them (and endorsement from our Mother and sister was not a selling point for him), but I talked him into it and I like to think he's trusted me (sort of) ever since. And my sister's recommendations aren't THAT bad (I don't trust my Mom-anyone who tries to get me to read some of the stuff she read really doesn't know my taste. I'll take her word on non-fiction and that's it). But my sister pressed Michael Connelly on me-another author whose books I had to read all of once I read one-so her taste isn't bad-she just can't seem to read anything but mysteries and I can't limit myself to that. But Francis's books are great-tightly plotted and suspenseful with memorable villains and heroes-they're great. Not all of them are set in the horse racing world (which Francis knows well, due to winning many races as a jockey himself), there are several set in many different worlds-the last one had glass blowing play a major part. But the books set in the horse world are wonderful and really showcase his talent for not only getting into the heads of the protagonists, but the villains as well. I heard he said that he wasn't going to write any more after his wife of many years died, as she was the one who did a lot of research for him, so I was really happy to see this new book, especially as it features Sid Halley, a jockey turned sleuth featured in one Francis's best books, Whip Hand.
Go on-pick one up...you won't be sorry. And read a Michael Connelly book with Harry Bosch in it while you're at it.

No, I don't have any to lend you except for this latest one, sorry...go ask my Mom-I think she's kept them all.