Refusal - Hardcover

Francis, Felix

4

3,634 ratings by Goodreads

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0718159365 ISBN 13: 9780718159368

Publisher: Michael Joseph, 2013

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Refusal is the new Dick Francis novel from bestseller, Felix Francis. When Sir Richard Stewart, chair of the horse racing authority, demands ex-investigator Sid Halley examines some suspicious races, he is given a firm no. Sid retired six years ago - and nothing will make him go back. But he's wrong. Next day, Sir Richard is found dead. Then Sid's six-year-old daughter goes missing and he receives an anonymous call: declare the alleged race-fixing clean, or else. With his family in danger, how can Sid refuse? But this anonymous foe has underestimated the guile and determination of Sid Halley. Extreme situations demand extreme solutions and Sid will do anything to get his life back, or die trying. The work of thriller master Dick Francis continues through his son Felix's solo efforts: Bloodline, Gamble, and now Refusal. Praise for Dick Francis and Felix Francis: 'From winning post to top of the bestseller list, time after time' Sunday Times 'The Francis flair is clear for all to see' Daily Mail 'The master of suspense and intrigue' Country Life 'Nail-biting, suspenseful' Choice Felix Francis is the younger son of thriller-writing legend, Dick Francis, with whom he co-wrote the four most recent Dick Francis Novels, Dead Heat, Silks, Even Money and Crossfire, with Felix taking an increasingly greater role in the writing. Sadly Dick died in February 2010 but his work will live on through Felix. Refusal is Felix's third solo Dick Francis novel. Felix trained as a physicist and spent seventeen years teaching A-level physics before taking on the role as manager to his father, and then as author. He lives in Oxfordshire.

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About the Author:

FELIX FRANCIS studied Physics and Electronics at London University and then embarked upon a 17 year career teaching Advanced Level physics. Felix Francis is the younger son of crime writer and National Hunt jockey Dick Francis, and over the past 40 years Felix assisted Dick with both the research and the writing of many of his novels. Felix's love of racing, writing talent, and knowledge and experience as a physics teacher was invaluable in the father and son writing partnership. Felix has written ten 'Francis' novels, the first Under Orders was published in 2006. Then followed Dead Heat,Silks, Even Money, Crossfire, Gamble, Bloodline, Refusal, Damage and Felix's tenth novel Front Runner.

From Booklist:

*Starred Review* In the steeplechase world, “refusal” means that a horse will not take a jump. Dick Francis’ son Felix, collaborator with his father on several novels and now the heir to his father’s line of mysteries, extends the equestrian definition to the massively banged-up (physically and emotionally) Sid Halley, who stars in a Francis novel for the first time since 2006. Halley, a champion steeplechase jockey who lost his left hand to the double whammy of a fall from a horse and an attack by a thug, long ago turned his insider’s knowledge of the race world into private investigative work. But an intense fear campaign directed at his girlfriend made him retire from the track altogether at the end of Under Orders. When the chairman of the British Racing Authority asks Halley to investigate his strong suspicion that races are being fixed, Halley refuses. Even after the chairman is found dead, threats made to Halley’s family, and his daughter placed in danger, Halley still refuses, holding onto the safety of his family, which he knows would be blown apart by his investigating the case. What finally tips Halley into changing his mind is entirely convincing, even though it ratchets up the danger for Halley and his family. This is fascinating reading on every level, from the neatly calibrated plot, moving from suspense to terror, to all the details of the racing world Francis provides. Halley is now, as before, an utterly complex, interest-holding character. And the final, moral turn that Francis makes of “refusal” is brilliant. A heroic return for Sid Halley. --Connie Fletcher

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