Dead Cert
Worth buying if: You enjoy mysteries built around a distinct profession and culture.
Skip it if: You want twist-heavy, high-octane thrillers or modern procedural gadgetry.
Exact edition: Edition shown · ISBN-13 9780515127263. The Amazon link uses this ISBN, so the product page should open to the edition shown here.
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Summary
When an old friend dies under suspicious circumstances, ex-jockey David Cleveland dives back into the paddocks, uncovering bribery, blackmail and a quiet, deadly conspiracy; Francis blends insider racing detail with a lean, tense detective plot.
Why this book now
For readers who crave sharp, character-driven mysteries with authentic sporting texture, Francis’s craft still rewards those who want taut plotting and a keen eye for motive.
30-second preview
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Best for readers who...
Good fit if you want...
- You enjoy mysteries built around a distinct profession and culture.
- You prefer restrained prose, steady pace, and practical detectives.
- You want twist-heavy, high-octane thrillers or modern procedural gadgetry.
- You expect experimental structure or lyrical literary flights.
- You only want something with very current references and examples.
Decided it fits?
Exact edition: Edition shown · ISBN-13 9780515127263
Worth buying if: You enjoy mysteries built around a distinct profession and culture.
Skip it if: You want twist-heavy, high-octane thrillers or modern procedural gadgetry.
Check Amazon for the current price and availability of this exact edition.
Reader guide
Cues to help you decide faster.
Reading commitment
Light Short sit-downs
At 288 pages, this moves briskly: expect a steady, clue-driven read you can finish in a few focused evenings.
What stands out here
This Berkley edition preserves Francis’s crisp, economical voice and the period setting—read for the authentic racing detail and the era’s measured detective work.
Best way to approach it
Read slowly enough to savor the racing terminology and suspects’ small gestures; note how dialogue and detail supply the novel’s steady accumulation of suspicion.
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Exact edition: ISBN-13 9780515127263
Check Amazon for the current price and availability of this exact edition.