Dick Francis

  • 114

    Catalog books

  • 29

    Works

  • 1972 to 2019

    Strongest span

Who This Author Is

Dick Francis wrote SMOKESCREEN, a tightly plotted thriller centered on racing and the hazards that shadow the sport. His narrative focuses on practical investigation, steady pacing, and close attention to the racecourse world, delivering suspense through character-driven dilemmas rather than sensational twists.

SMOKESCREEN showcases Francis’s hallmark: a professional milieu rendered with authority and a protagonist compelled to unravel deception under pressure. Readers find meticulous detail about jockey life and investigative craft, where stakes arise organically from occupation and loyalty rather than melodrama.

Best Place To Start

Dead Cert

Berkley Pub Group • 2000 • standard commitment

It helps anchor a specific period of this author’s publishing run instead of blending into the undated shelf clutter.

Author At A Glance

Best known for: Hard-boiled crime thriller • Tight plotting and twisty reveals • Gritty urban atmosphere

Genres and themes: Crime fiction • Noir suspense • Police procedure

Who this author is best for: Good for readers who like terse, fast-paced mysteries with moral ambiguity and a focus on investigation.

Start with Smokescreen to sample Francis’s lean prose and puzzle-driven plotting.

Top Books To Start With

  1. Dead Cert

    Berkley Pub Group • 2000 • standard commitment

    UPB note: one of the most common used-copy publishers for this author • year signal: 2000 • 288 pages.

  2. Odds Against

    Berkley Pub Group • 2000 • standard commitment

    UPB note: one of the most common used-copy publishers for this author • year signal: 2000 • 277 pages.

  3. Blood Sport

    Berkley Pub Group • 1999 • standard commitment

    UPB note: one of the most common used-copy publishers for this author • year signal: 1999 • 288 pages.

  4. FORFEIT

    Berkley Pub Group • 1999 • standard commitment

    UPB note: one of the most common used-copy publishers for this author • year signal: 1999 • 248 pages.

  5. Field Of Thirteen

    Berkley Pub Group • 1999 • standard commitment

    UPB note: one of the most common used-copy publishers for this author • year signal: 1999 • 289 pages.

  6. Flying Finish

    Berkley Pub Group • 1999 • standard commitment

    readers who want one of the clearer starting points on this page

  7. Whip Hand

    Berkley Pub Group • 1999 • standard commitment

    UPB note: one of the most common used-copy publishers for this author • year signal: 1999 • 292 pages.

  8. 10 Lb. Penalty

    Berkley Pub Group • 1998 • standard commitment

    UPB note: one of the most common used-copy publishers for this author • year signal: 1998 • 306 pages.

  9. Nerve

    Berkley Pub Group • 1998 • standard commitment

    UPB note: one of the most common used-copy publishers for this author • year signal: 1998 • 313 pages.

  10. PROOF

    Berkley Pub Group • 1997 • longer commitment

    UPB note: one of the most common used-copy publishers for this author • year signal: 1997 • 368 pages.

How The Picks Compare

  • Odds Against is the easier short commitment, while Dead Cert asks for more reading time up front.

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