Monday, February 15, 2010

Dick Francis, RIP

Famous author of racetrack mysteries, Dick Francis, has died.

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

Holy crow! I didn't know he was that old, I was carrying a completely different picture in my head. Well, it was accurate 20 years ago!

Rest In Peace, your work here is done.

cac said...

One of my favourite authors, not only for the books, which are excellent in themselves - literate, well crafted mysteries - but also because they spanned the late 50s onwards. Like the works of the late Ed McBain, you can trace tremendous social change during that period. The early books have characters from Southern Rhodesia who address even close friends by surname and title right through to the invention of the computer and the internet. There is an excellent obit by the way at the UK telegraph. As a tribute I will have to re-read him, all 40 or so books.

Paco said...

I thoroughly enjoyed his mysteries, and will miss him tremendously.

Anonymous said...

If you haven't read it yet, try To The Hilt, one of his best IMO.

Thanks for the UK Telegraph tip, cac. They have some video of the Devon Loch collapse, something I hadn't seen until today.

FWIW, there will be one more book with Felix, to be released in August.

Retread

Pogria said...

Mr Francis will be missed.
I was attracted to his books because I was a horse mad teenager, who subsequently became a mad horse owner!
His earlier books about the crippled jockey, Sid Halley, were also made into a television series. It may be available on DVD. I don't know as I haven't looked for it yet.

Retread, you're right about To The Hilt. Brilliant. My absolute favourite though is, Hot Money. I have reread it many, many times, and I still get a kick out of it. It's a rollicking ride, pardon the pun, with a sad twist to it.

Paco, seeing as how you enjoy British authors, have you ever read anything by Minette Walters?

If you come across any of hers, I highly recommend The Scold's Bridle, and The Dark Room.

Rip Dick. You will be sorely missed.

Mr. Bingley said...

aw, a pity.

his books were always well-crafted and entertaining.