Dick Francis Reading Group discussion

Does anyone have recommendations on authors like Dick Francis? My father loves his books, but has read all of them. I would like to get him books for christmas and was looking for recommendations on another author who he might like.

I really like the books by Lyndon Stacey. They, in my opinion, have a similar feel about them. They all have as the protagonist a man in his thirties who is faced with some sort of adversity and has to use his skills and resourcefulness to resolve things. They have a horse theme as well, however it is not racing but rather showjumping and eventing.

Eileen wrote: "Does anyone have recommendations on authors like Dick Francis? My father loves his books, but has read all of them. I would like to get him books for christmas and was looking for recommendations..."
Jenny Pittman and John Francome are horsey action thriller, jenny has a short intense semi autobigraphical series, she trained a Grand National winner. and John was a jockey during and after Dick Francis's time. His books closely follow the same themes as the Francis books, well written and enjoyable.

I found a nice list of six racing fiction books, which (as it should!) starts with a Dick Francis, but gives some other suggestions as well:
http://horseracing.about.com/library/...

Another jockey who became a mystery author is Bill Shoemaker. I have one of his books, but haven't read it yet.

This cozy mystery website was recommended in another group I'm in. Even though they have determined that Dick Francis mysteries aren't cozy, they have a nice list of his books and include him on their page of horse-themed mystery books. I haven't read any of the other authors on their list, but I thought people here might be interested:

http://www.cozy-mystery.com/blog/horse-theme-mystery-books-equestrian-mysteries.html

Hi!

Six years ago I began to write horse mysteries for young people. Think of my stuff a bit like Dick Francis meets Enid Blyton's Famous Five! Have released a title a year since then. Six down only thirty-something to go.

I love it when I'm at writer's festivals and people smile and say "Hey! You do Dick Francis for kids!"

Heck, nobody else was doing it.

Will happily give a signed copy of my first book away to anyone willing to write me a review on Amazon, and then pass the book along to a horse crazed kid.

My author page is here...Krista Michelle Breen

jenny pitman i also liked
althoughnot read anyone like dick

Dick Francis was my invisible mentor when I began writing. My readers tell me that my stories remind them very much of dear Dick. I was saddened when he passed on.

Check my profile to see the horse-themed mysteries and thrillers I've written. Four titles: Gambling with the Enemy, Deadly Heritage, Winning Ways, and Hearts Over Fences (equestrian romance). New book will debut in June: Rescue Me (horse rescue and battered women).

http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/...

Glad to see so many fans of Dick Francis!

Hi, Toni! Welcome! We also have a large email group that has been quite active for many years.

Thanks Luann, glad to be here. Will you put me on your email group?

Toni, you can join by sending a blank email to:
Dick-Francis-group-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

You might consider William Murray, who wrote a series of horseracing mysteries involving magician, Shifty Lou Anderson and Stephen Dobyns who wrote a series of mysteries based around Saratoga Racetrack.

Read the first chapter of Sasscer Hill's new horse racing mystery here: http://fullmortality.blogspot.com/

If you like it, you can order the book direct from Amazon. It is in stock and just came out in May of 2010. Hill is a longtime fan of Francis, and involved in the racing industry in Maryland.

So what does everyone think about the announcement today that Dick Francis's son, Felix, will be taking over the series?

I had always assumed he would do this. I just don't think he has the passion in his writing that I experienced in his father's books.

I agree. I've been very reluctant to read the books he co-authored with his father and will probably skip the ones he write alone in favor of going back and occasionally re-reading the originals.

Really? I will definitely still be reading anything he writes, even though I know it won't be the same as a Dick Francis book. He's got some impossible shoes to fill. But at this point, anything he writes is the closest thing we'll ever be getting to a new Dick Francis book.

I've just read two of Lyndon Stacey's books featuring the former cop turned lorry driver and his dog, Taz. Not bad writing. Excellent use of tension.

Off to the library tonight for more books . . .

Eileen wrote: "Does anyone have recommendations on authors like Dick Francis? My father loves his books, but has read all of them. I would like to get him books for christmas and was looking for recommendations..."

Any john francome novel is well worth a read . This guy was seven times ,I think champion jockey and a racing pundit on uk screens for twenty odd years before becoming president of the injured jockeys fund. He is sorely missed on the racing coverage as he was highly knowledgable and immensely amusing , however we still have his novels to enjoy.