Dead Cert (Dick Francis, 1962)

Continuing a bit of an equine theme within the fiction I've read lately - Black Beauty, Gulliver's Travels (the horse-like Houyhnhnms) - the next book I picked off the pile of crime novel box sets was Dick Francis' Dead Cert. The first of Francis' 40+ bestsellers, set in the world of jockeys and horse-racing, it's also the first of his works I've read. I've got to say that I'm baffled by betting and racing holds no interest for me, so I was a bit dubious about what I'd get out of Dead Cert.

I was pleasantly surprised to find that an interest in horses wasn't a prerequisite for enjoying the book (just like Harlan Coben's Myron Bolitar novels don't require an interest in sport to enjoy the thrillers involving the sports-agent amateur detective) which is a taught piece of crime literature. Opening with the death of a jockey who falls from his horse during a race - our narrator Alan York, a 24 year old from South Africa, suspects foul play - the novel charts York's sleuthing as it takes him from dodgy bookies, violent cabbies and through the English woodland.

The mystery is a good 'un and the protagonist is believable in his ability to hunt out clues - and he has a good reason for not leaving it up to the police - they don't believe him. What I found most interesting is the period detail of the early 60's, the formalities and the language. The novel's not just a horsey one, it's a period one, albeit written in the period! While I won't actively seek out more Dick Francis - I'm trying to get through the massive pile of books I've already got - I wouldn't say no to another one of these racing thrillers.