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Order of Dick Francis Books
If there’s ever been a man who literally rode into the world of fiction, it’s Dick Francis—a former champion jockey who turned every gallop, fall, and victory into heart-pounding thrillers that left readers breathless and begging for more.
Born on October 31, 1920, in the Welsh countryside of Lawrenny, Pembrokeshire, Richard Stanley Francis wasn’t destined for an ordinary life. Horses coursed through his veins. His father owned a stable and was a jockey himself, and young Dick grew up learning not just to ride, but to live and think like a horseman. Little did the world know, that this quiet Welsh lad would one day become one of the most celebrated authors of crime fiction.
Before his name was printed on bestsellers, Dick Francis made his mark in the high-stakes world of British National Hunt racing. He served in the Royal Air Force during World War II, piloting bomber and fighter planes—a career that taught him precision, control, and the terrifying weight of risk. But it was after the war that he truly found his stride as a professional jockey. In the 1950s, he rode over 350 winners, earning accolades and fans. Yet, one race would change his life forever.
In 1956, Francis was the Queen Mother's jockey in the Grand National, riding the now-infamous horse Devon Loch. Just a few strides away from certain victory, Devon Loch inexplicably leapt into the air and collapsed—an eerie, unexplained fall that stunned the world. It was a crushing moment, one that could’ve broken a man.
Instead, it made him.
Forced into early retirement due to injuries, Francis began to chronicle the racing world from the other side of the fence—as a racing correspondent for the Sunday Express. But even journalism wasn’t enough. The stories bubbling within him demanded more than facts—they needed suspense, mystery, adrenaline... and justice.
In 1962, with a little push from his wife Mary Margaret Francis—his lifelong partner and editor behind the scenes—he published his first novel, Dead Cert. It wasn’t just a hit; it was a new genre in itself. A fast-paced blend of mystery, sports, and psychological suspense with a uniquely equestrian twist. Dick Francis had just invented a new literary saddle—and he rode it hard.
Over the decades, Francis published over 40 international bestsellers, many featuring unlikely but unforgettable heroes: former jockeys, accountants, artists, and investigators—all drawn into dark webs of deceit, corruption, and murder. What made his work iconic wasn't just the breakneck plots—it was the authenticity. His deep knowledge of horses, racing, and danger wasn’t imagined. He lived it. Every page felt real—because it was rooted in his bruises, victories, and scars.
But here’s what most don’t know: behind his literary success stood the brilliance of his wife, Mary. For years, rumors swirled that she co-wrote many of his books. Dick never denied her contribution, and after her death in 2000, he openly credited her with shaping his writing. Their partnership was one of mutual respect, passion, and wordsmithing magic.
In the final chapter of his own story, Dick Francis didn’t slow down. Even after turning 80, he continued to publish bestsellers, this time collaborating with his son Felix Francis, passing the baton of literary legacy with the same precision as a race relay.
Dick Francis passed away on February 14, 2010, in the Cayman Islands. He left behind not just a library of gripping novels but an indelible mark on the mystery and thriller genre. He was awarded Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) and named Mystery Writers of America’s Grand Master—honors as prestigious in writing as the Grand National is in racing.
And yet… the real thrill of Dick Francis isn’t just in his accolades. It’s in the pages. The way his heroes—battered but resilient—navigate corruption, greed, and sabotage, often at deadly speeds. It’s in the gallop of justice pounding down the backstretch. It’s in the way he turned life’s greatest heartbreak into fiction that refused to pull up.
So, saddle up. Every Dick Francis novel is a ride through the shadows, guided by a man who once stood at the pinnacle of racing, crashed spectacularly… and rose again—pen in hand, and danger in sight.
Publication Order of Series Books
Publication Order of Jeff Hinkley
| Title | Year | Amazon Links |
|---|---|---|
| Damage | 2014 | Amazon |
| Front Runner | 2015 | Amazon |
| Triple Crown | 2016 | Amazon |
Publication Order of Kit Fielding
| Title | Year | Amazon Links |
|---|---|---|
| Bolt | 1986 | Amazon |
Publication Order of Sid Halley
| Title | Year | Amazon Links |
|---|---|---|
| Odds Against | 1965 | Amazon |
| Whip Hand | 1979 | Amazon |
| Come to Grief | 1995 | Amazon |
Publication Order of Standalone Novels
| Title | Year | Amazon Links |
|---|---|---|
| No Reserve Co-Written with Felix Francis | 2023 | Amazon |
| Hands Down Co-Written with Felix Francis | 2022 | Amazon |
| Iced Co-Written with Felix Francis | 2021 | Amazon |
| Guilty Not Guilty Co-Written with Felix Francis | 2019 | Amazon |
| Crisis Co-Written with Felix Francis | 2018 | Amazon |
| Pulse Co-Written with Felix Francis | 2017 | Amazon |
| Refusal | 2013 | Amazon |
| Bloodline Co-Written with Felix Francis | 2012 | Amazon |
| Gamble Co-Written with Felix Francis | 2011 | Amazon |
| Crossfire Co-Written with Felix Francis | 2010 | Amazon |
| Even Money Co-Written with Felix Francis | 2009 | Amazon |
| Silks Co-Written with Felix Francis | 2008 | Amazon |
| Dead Heat Co-Written with Felix Francis | 2007 | Amazon |
| Under Orders | 2006 | Amazon |
| Under Orders | 2006 | Amazon |
| Shattered | 2000 | Amazon |
| Second Wind | 1999 | Amazon |
| Field of Thirteen | 1998 | Amazon |
| 10 lb Penalty | 1997 | Amazon |
| To the Hilt | 1996 | Amazon |
| Wild Horses | 1994 | Amazon |
| Decider | 1993 | Amazon |
| Driving Force | 1992 | Amazon |
| Driving Force | 1992 | Amazon |
| Longshot | 1990 | Amazon |
| Straight | 1989 | Amazon |
| The Edge | 1988 | Amazon |
| Hot Money | 1987 | Amazon |
| Proof | 1984 | Amazon |
| The Danger | 1983 | Amazon |
| Banker | 1982 | Amazon |
| Twice Shy | 1981 | Amazon |
| Reflex | 1980 | Amazon |
| Trial Run | 1978 | Amazon |
| Risk | 1977 | Amazon |
| In the Frame | 1976 | Amazon |
| High Stakes | 1975 | Amazon |
| Knock Down | 1974 | Amazon |
| Slay-Ride | 1973 | Amazon |
| Bonecrack | 1971 | Amazon |
| Rat Race | 1970 | Amazon |
| Enquiry | 1969 | Amazon |
| Forfeit | 1968 | Amazon |
| Blood Sport | 1967 | Amazon |
| Flying Finish | 1966 | Amazon |
| For Kicks | 1965 | Amazon |
| Nerve | 1964 | Amazon |
| Dead Cert | 1962 | Amazon |