Under Orders (Sid Halley)

by Dick Francis

Book Overview

"Sadly, death at the races is not uncommon. However, three in a single afternoon was sufficiently unusual to raise more than one eyebrow." It's the third death on Cheltenham Gold Cup Day that really... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0399154000
• Release Date: January 2006
• Publisher: Putnam
• Length: 308 Pages
• Weight: 1.45 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.3" x 1.4" x 6.3"

Customer Reviews

Back in the Saddle

Just finished this. Very satisfying read, and achieved closure on many fronts. This is Dick Francis's first novel since the death of his wife, Mary about 5-6 years ago. Many of DF's novels featured an insider's view of a field such as flying, painting, photography, wine-making, or British politics. The research was extremely well done, and DF made no secret of the fact that Mary did almost all of the research. Shortly before her death, there were dark whispers that she also did most of the writing, taking advantage of Dick's fame and reputation as a champion steeplechase jockey. I'm afraid that Dick's decision to retire from writing after she passed away may have given some credence to those whispers. Then, much to my surprise and delight, a new novel came out last fall. A novel featuring Sid Halley, the protagonist in three previous novels who had recovered from personal tragedy to achieve a fair degree of success, but not happiness, not peace. Under Orders featured an insider's view of English horse racing, which required no research at all for DF, and a view of internet gambling that was not as deep as views of other subjects in previous novels. But Sid was clearly Sid, and the other old characters still the same, and the new characters well developed and believable. The writing was the same as before, putting to rest, for me at least, any doubts that DF had written all of the previous novels. And in this novel, I believe Sid did find what had eluded him in the past, happiness and peace. If DF never writes again, I would think that this book makes a most satisfactory ending. Perhaps with it, he, like the character that I always thought was a thin disguise, has regained some happiness and peace.

Well done, Mr. Francis!!

Former steeplechase jockey, now investigator, Sid Halley, has his one real and one artificial hand's full. While attending a steeplechase race, Lord Enstone asks that Sid investigate whether his horses' trainer is deliberately influencing how they run. The trainers' jockey, who had been trying to reach Sid, is found dead after having been shot three times. When, days later, the trainer is found dead, everyone is ready to write it off as suicide over guilt of being caught out--everyone bud Sid. This is classic and masterful Dick Francis with his excellent opening hooks. Now, ten years after the previous Halley book, Francis has allowed his recurring characters to age and mature in a realistic way; Sid has a stable relationship, his ex-wife is less bitter and his former father-in-law is getting older. You are given enough of Sid's background to understand his vulnerabilities and what motivates him, and Francis has given him a girl friend of his equal. However, Francis doesn't assume you've read the previous books and so provides enough background so this book could be read as a standalone. The new characters are also fully developed. I always learn things when I read Francis' books. In this case, about prosthetics, on-line gambling, British police procedure, DNA, and other things, but never in a preachy way or one that takes me out of the story. Because Francis' plots are so interesting, one almost loses how well he creates sense of place and dialogue. At one point, when I feared he was falling into a clichéd style, he character stated he wasn't going to do the clichéd action. Even when he had a clue that, I thought, was fairly obvious, he added a nice twist to it that I hadn't expected. While this book may not have been a continually gripping as some of Francis' previous, it had enough suspense to keep me continually turning the pages and one the sofa from page one to the very end--and I loved the end-- without stopping. I highly recommend this book, and am delighted Mr. Francis' is back. Long may he write!!

Spend an evening with an old friend

I discovered Dick Francis 26 years ago, and the first book I read was the first Sid Halley--Odds Against. Francis does a fine job of updating Sid, Charles, and the rest as men of the 21rst century. This is Francis's best book since Straight--and that's a mighty long time ago. It should be clear to all now just who was writing these books even if his wife, Mary, was his partner. This is vintage Francis--characters are introduced in a paragraph early on in such a way that you really know them when their time comes to act, die, or be of use to Sid. The dry humor is there--the compassion, the wit, the wisdom. We've gone 5 long years with no Dick Francis novels, and 15 without a really, really good one. I just sank into it and got lost in the world of British racing as seen through the eyes of one of my favorite authors. It's not for the uninitiated, though. There's plenty in the middle that is slow and personal--fans of Sid won't mind, but if folks haven't read Francis, this isn't the place to start. In truth, Francis reads especially well in order even though the majority of the books are stand-alones--the first five (Dead Cert, Nerve, For Kicks, Odds Against, and Flying Finish) are still my favorites.

RACING IS THE SPORT OF KINGS - CRIME FICTION THE SPORT OF DICK FRANCIS

To the best of my knowledge it has been six years since the last Dick Francis mystery. I had reluctantly resigned myself to the fact that there probably wouldn't be another one, but here it is! Another entertaining read from the master of track thrillers featuring one of my favorite protagonists, Sid Halley, former jockey who lost a hand thus ending his career in racing. He then turned to sleuthing with an eagle eye and a nose for the nefarious. In this, his 42nd book, Francis wastes no time in hooking readers: "Sadly, death at the races is not uncommon. However, three in a single afternoon was sufficiently unusual to raise more than an eyebrow. That only one of the deaths was of a horse was more than enough to bring the local constabulary hotfoot to the track." One of the recently departed is jockey Huy Walker - dispatched with three bullets to the heart. He had been having an affair with trainer Bill Burton's wife. That was more than enough to put Burton at the top of the suspect list......until Burton himself turned up dead. Halley had been approached by Lord Enstone to look into why Enstone's horses weren't getting anywhere near the Winner's Circle. Enstone wants to know what's going on at the track - bribes, race fixing? Well, that kind of skullduggery is bad enough but murder is quite another thing. Halley feels compelled to look into the killings, but in doing so puts his own life at risk. As always, readers will relish the author's thorough knowledge of racing and his deft way with a plot. Racing, as we know, is the sport of kings. Exemplary crime fiction is the sport of Dick Francis. Highly recommended. - Gail Cooke

It was worth the wait!

After six years of waiting it was with enthusiastic anticipation that I ripped open the package from the mystery guild book club last week and started in on the newest Dick Francis Novel! Let me just say it was worth the wait! Not only was it worth the wait but it was good to see Francis put the horse racing industry front and center again. In his more recent novels the racing industry seemed very peripheral to the story. This time out champion Jockey Sid Halley is back in action. Halley became a PI after a terrible racing accident ended his career. The plot has many great twists and turns and Halley even has a new love interest! Plenty here to keep you turning the pages. "Under Orders" has been my favorite thriller reads of the summer!