Triple Crown: Three Complete Novels

by Dick Francis

In Dead Cert , steeplechaser Alan York knows well the dangers of the sport. But when his best friend and rival takes a fall in the middle of a race, Alan discovers that his death was no accident. Nerve is the story of a struggling young jockey named Rob—a misfit in a family of accomplished musicians-who discovers that his troubling losing streak is caused not by a lack of skill or confidence, but by something far more sinister. For Kicks finds Australian horse breeder Daniel Roke resisting an exorbitant sum of money to investigate a scandal involving drugged racehorses. But after another investigator dies mysteriously, Roke agrees to fill his shoes—and learns that men who give drugs to horses are capable of doing much worse to human beings.  

Genres: Fiction, Mystery

624 pages, Paperback

Published September 6, 2005

About the author

Dick Francis was a British jockey and crime novelist whose life and work were closely connected with the world of horse racing. Raised in Berkshire in a family involved with horses, he left school at fifteen with the ambition of becoming a jockey and began training horses as a teenager. During the Second World War, he served in the Royal Air Force as a pilot, flying fighters and bombers before returning to racing after the war. He became one of Britain's leading National Hunt jockeys, winning more than 350 races and becoming champion jockey in the 1953–54 season. From 1953 to 1957, he was jockey to Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, and his most famous race came in the 1956 Grand National, when her horse Devon Loch fell suddenly while apparently heading toward victory. After retiring from racing following another serious fall, Francis turned to journalism and writing. His autobiography, The Sport of Queens, led to sixteen years as racing correspondent for the Sunday Express, while his first thriller, Dead Cert, established the formula that would make him an international bestseller. He went on to write more than forty novels, most set against the backdrop of British horse racing but featuring protagonists from a wide range of professions. His stories combine detailed knowledge of racing with tightly constructed mysteries, dangerous investigations and protagonists forced to overcome serious physical and personal obstacles. Among his best-known recurring characters is Sid Halley, a former jockey turned private investigator who appears in Odds Against, Whip Hand, Come to Grief and Under Orders. Francis's wife, Mary, was an important collaborator throughout his writing career, conducting research, editing manuscripts and contributing to plot and character development. Their son Felix later became his father's collaborator and continued the Francis tradition after his father's death. A three-time winner of the Edgar Award for Best Novel, Francis also received the Gold Dagger, the Cartier Diamond Dagger and the Mystery Writers of America Grand Master Award. His novels brought the specialized world of horse racing to an international readership and established him as one of the most influential writers of the racing thriller.

Reviews

[E.P. · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Francis train gets off to a roaring start here in this paperback collection of his first three novels, "Dead Cert," "Nerve," and "For Kicks." Although I consider "Dead Cert" to be not quite *as* good as some of his later work, it's still highly readable, and "Nerve" and "For Kicks" continue to hold their own down the years as exciting thrillers that are also surprisingly profound psychological studies, "Nerve" of someone who has to come face to face with his own fears and breaking point, and "For Kicks" of someone who realizes he'll never be able to live a "normal" life. Plus there's plenty of atmospheric gallops through the wintry English countryside. Francis fans will be well served by this compact collection.

[Aurel Mihai · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thoroughly enjoyable light reading. Dead Cert and Nerve are more mystery. For Kicks is more drama. The plots are all clever and the characters mostly interesting if not particularly memorable.

[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well so far, only the first story in this collection. I knew I was going to be waiting at the doctor’s for two appointments, so grabbed a paperback from my collection for reading material. And, of course, as usual for me when reading Francis, once I started it was impossible not to keep reading. I will continue to read the other true stories as well. In a way, it is a treat for me to return to some of his early books and rediscover what a hand he was at drawing the reader into the story…and not letting go. Will always be one of my favorite writers.
Went on and read the other two novels in this collection: Nerve and For Kicks on March 14 and 15. Again engrossing reads, and has given me the appetite to read more of his books.