Dead Cert

Written by Dick Francis

Narrated by Simon Prebble

What has drawn millions of readers to Dick Francis’ bestselling equestrian mysteries—aside from the fascinating racetrack setting, exceptionally plotted mystery, and high level of suspense—is the classic Francis hero. Ordinary men of
character and scruples, they stand alone in the world of mystery heroes—enduring and persevering with endless reserves of intelligence and courage. In Dead Cert, Francis pits amateur jockey Alan York against a well-organized criminal network as complex as the Mafia.

The victory was hollow for Alan. He had been running a close second behind his good friend Bill Davidson, when Bill’s horse unexpectedly jerked as he soared over the steeplechase fence. Now, Bill was dead from his injuries, and Alan knew it
wasn’t an accident. A small, menacing thread of wire dangled from the top of the fence—a carefully constructed plot of malice. Curious, Alan begins an investigation that points to corruption that transcends the racing circuit—seeping
into the town surrounding the track. Soon he discovers that knowing too much can be as deadly as not knowing what’s over the next fence.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Recorded Books, Inc.
• Release date: Apr 19, 2022
• ISBN: 9781705071076

Reviews for Dead Cert

[stephanie_m-868484 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Dick Francis may not have been trying to earn literary awards, or communicating any life-changing truths with his writing, or pick apart the general public and/or it's attitudes/ideas/lifestyles. But he sure did know how to tell a great mystery story. His heroes are always kind, tough, clever, and very good, in a very basic, old-fashioned way. His plots are always engaging, with plenty of actual knowledge from the sport involved, since he was a jockey in a former life. His romances are very old-fashioned at times, but they are sweet, and with none of the extensive sex scenes that most books these days insist on having. (It sure is nice to get back to a time when that wasn't not only completely necessary to sell a book, but also the entire reason for the storyline in the first place!) And I find the world of British horse racing he describes to be a fascinating and exciting one.

I also rather like Francis's writing style. His spare prose never draws attention to itself; he writes in his genre very eloquently, very plainly, and very much like the gentleman I expect he was in his lifetime. After every book I read of his, I wish I could have met him, all over again. I expect there were not many men like Dick Francis around, either here or in England.

Dead Cert happens to be the first of Francis's many mysteries. One thing that Francis got better at over time was romance -- this one could probably be called cheesy, in someone else view. But the basic plot was great and I quite enjoyed this book as well as the others I've read. Also, I found it very refreshing to read a mystery that was written before the age of computers, cell phones, and DNA testing. Crime sleuthing was quite a different game back then.

[clue_4 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The first in the Sid Haley series is a good mystery with professional gamblers and bookies at the heart of the plot. My only complaint is that there is a rather silly romance as well. Even so, Dick Francis readers shouldn't miss this one.

[mstrust · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Alan York has come from his privileged home in Rhodesia to run steeplechases in England. When his friend Bill takes a fall during a race while riding an experienced horse, and soon dies from his injuries, Alan becomes suspicious. Adding to his suspicions are the threats to another jockey who is known to cheat, and the girl he has just fallen in love with is also dating another jockey, even though her snobby aunt disapproves the whole situation.

[themulhern · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The obligatory romance is grating. However, this first novel by Dick Francis evokes the world of racing vividly and has one really excellent and imaginative chase sequence. It's a period piece; the "radio cabs" are remarkable because they communicate with a central dispatcher.The hero is a little bit too pointlessly stalwart, noble, dense and uncommunicative. These traits are useful to keep the action going, of course.

[gpangel_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I have a nice little collection of Dick Francis novels. These novels are written in such a way that they seem timeless. These are very solid mysteries centered around horse racing. This one featured Alan York who lost his best friend in what at first appeared an accident. Upon further investigation, Alan finds that his friend's accident was engineered and now he finds himself in danger after it becomes clear he suspects foul play.Over all an resounding A

[mrslee_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Alan York, who happens to have been trained in the art of detection by a mathematics teacher who was enthralled with Sherlock Holmes, is an amateur steeplechase jockey. When he sees one of his best friends die on the racecourse in suspicious circumstances, he sets out to find out who caused the death, and why. This is a fast-paced story with an interesting setting, and characters that were not painful to be around. Not even the villain. I have to say, their reactions to life's setbacks weren't all that believable, and the bad guy was easy to sight, but it didn't bother me. I wanted to get on with the story, finish the race to the end, so to speak. I gave it three stars, because it was a good, galloping read.

[jayne_charles_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I had never tried a Dick Francis novel before so thought I might as well start with one of his biggies. Unfortunately I'm not sure it says much for the rest of his back catalogue, as it was a well told story ruined by a naff ending.I like books that have me guessing right to the end, and then the baddie turns out to be the last person you suspected. Whereas this one was right out of the Scooby Doo school of detecting. I guessed it early on and hoped desperately that I was being deliberately led up the wrong path, but was ultimately disappointed.Good points about the book included a straightforward, readable style, a narrator I was happy to root for in his quest for justice, despite his being an old colonial toff, and an interesting insight into horse racing, as well as dodgy cabs.The age of the book showed in its 'stiff upper lip' style (the discovery that the narrator was only 24 had me choking on my cornflakes - he came across as nearer 54), and the fact that it could never have happened in the modern day of the mobile phone. In particular, the pursuit sequence late on in the book would have been impossible, but that's in no way a bad thing.

[docwalt10 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

True to is roots, this story features a South African jockey. He comes to England to race and further his father's business interests. We see the internal rivalry between jockeys. We see how the gambling,on racing, can be dangerous for the jockeys. As always well written and keeps you interested from the first page to the last.

[patricem04047 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This was his first book, and I read it back in the 70's. I fell in love with Dick Francis and his books, and never fell out of love.. I've always enjoyed that his hero's were men I'd want to know and have as a friend.

[breic-1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

After some Jane Smiley, I wanted more horses. It's been decades since I've read Dick Francis. I truly have no idea whether I've read this one before, but it scratched that itch.

[aliceanna-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I only discovered Dick Francis a very few years ago. I'd heard of him, of course, but I didn't think that he would appeal to me. Upon reading a collection of his that was among my late mother's books, I realized what I had been missing. I have since read several of his works, all of which were very enjoyable and engaging, and decided to go back to the start. I believe that Dead Cert was his first mystery. He came out with a bang. Francis had the same skills at developing a tightly knit plot with good characters in 1962 as he did in his later works. Much like the steeplechase, the reader is taken over obstacles and around bends slowly at first, but finds him/herself rushing headlong to cross the finish line. Very satisfying read.

[bookconcierge · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Book on CD read by Simon Prebble

Alan York is a wealthy man and an amateur jockey. He is riding well in this race but still a close second to his good friend Bill Davidson … until Bill’s horse falls and Alan finishes first. The victory is a hollow one because Bill is so seriously injured he dies in hospital. As Alan thinks over the race he is certain that there was something unnatural about the way Admiral took that jump. So, he goes back to the course to look at the jump where Bill’s horse fell. He finds a coil of wire – proof that the course was sabotaged. But by the time he gets a race official to take a look the wire is gone. Trying to figure out why someone would want to hurt his friend, Alan begins investigating and finds a network of corruption that involves much more than racing.

I am late to the party when it comes to reading Dick Francis, and I’m sorry I missed his work for all these years. He writes a good thriller. His plot is well-crafted and moves quickly. There are plenty of red herrings as well as legitimate clues. I thought I had it figured out, and was happy when I was proved wrong. A great ride!

Simon Prebble does a fine job on the audio version. He has good diction, great pacing and does a particularly good job on the thrilling chase scene.

[marjorie stradinger · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A little drawn out to introduce all the players and the set up—but necessary. When it picks up, we stick with Alan like a jockey on a runaway. We can’t let go until the very, very last minute of terror and suspense.

The superb narration makes us live this story.

Excellent story and telling.

[Liana Kay · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

my favorite dick francis book so far. would definitely recommend

[librisissimo · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Copy of review for copy-2 (discarded) re-read 2016-03016.One of the best of the early Francis novels, concentrating on the sport of racing and the psychology of jockeys. At the time, the radio-dispatched "Marconicars" were something new in technology, but are now totally common-place; one of the virtues of Francis's writing is that he stays grounded in the present at the time of composition, which gives his books a nostalgic quality when read decades later (as with the Lord Peter novels of Dorothy L. Sayers, and the Jeeves books by Wodehouse).My one objection would be that there was not as much deduction as there could have been (and often is in his books), but that the hero missed some clear clues, although he did deduce who the villain had to be from other indications, and kind of fell into the final solution.