Dick Francis – författare

Fast-paced radio dramatisations of six of Dick Francis'' classic racing thrillers, plus bonus documentaryEnquiryAfter riding the favourite into second place, jockey Kelly Hughes loses his licence. But he didn''t throw the race, and is determined to find out who framed him...Rat RaceA cushy job transporting passengers between racecourses turns dangerous for pilot Matt Shore when his plane explodes and he''s embroiled in a deadly plot.BonecrackAbducted by masked men, Neil Griffon is faced with a deadly ultimatum - obey the instructions of a ruthless crime czar, or risk the destruction of his father''s racing stables.Whip HandDisabled ex-jockey turned investigator Sid Halley is faced with a triple threat when he is asked to guard a horse, probe a suspicious syndicate and find a swindler.ProofWhen a party to celebrate the success of the racing season ends in tragedy, wine dealer and amateur sleuth Tony Beach investigates.BoltAsked by a princess to fend off a dangerous cousin who is making threats, Kit Fielding agrees to help. But he also has problems of his own to deal with...Among the casts of these six action-packed adaptations are Bill Nighy, Nigel Havers and Siân Phillips.Also included is a bonus episode of the Radio 4 series Great Lives, presented by Matthew Parris, in which Francis'' biographer Graham Lord, chairman of the British Horseracing Board Martin Broughton and racing correspondent Jonathan Powell explore the life and work of the champion thriller writer.Please note that due to the age of some of these recordings, sound quality may vary.© 2020 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd(p) 2020 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

The abridged, downloadable audiobook edition of Dick Francis''s thriller, Under Orders, read by Martin Jarvis."Sadly, death at the races is not uncommon. However, three in one afternoon was sufficiently unusual to raise more than an eyebrow."It''s the third death that really troubles former champion jump-jockey Sid Halley. He knows the perils of racing all too well - but in his day, jockeys didn''t usually reach the finishing line with three .38 rounds in the chest. But this is precisely how he finds Huw Walker - the new winner of the Triumph Hurdle and Halley''s friend. Now former friend. Walker was riding one of Lord Enstone''s horses in the Hurdle and it was the inimitable owner who invited Halley in the first place. His brief: to make discrete enquiries into alleged race fixing. Are results being rigged? Are bookies taking a cut? And if so, are trainers and jockeys playing a dangerous game with stakes far higher than they realise ... Halley''s quest for answers draws him ever deeper into the darker side of the race game, in a life-or-death power-play that will push him to his very limits - both professionally and personally."A New Dick Francis is always a cause for celebration" - Mail on Sunday.

The abridged, downloadable audiobook edition of Dick and Felix Francis''s searing and intrue-fillied thriller, Dead Heat. Read by Martin Jarvis.''I wondered if I was dying. I wasn''t afraid to die but, such was the pain in my gut, I wished it would happen soon.'' The night before the Two Thousand Guineas at Newmarket sees the great and the good of the horse-racing community gathered for a prestigious black-tie Gala dinner. It is a fitting testament to the glamour of the occasion that Max Moreton is cooking the evening''s meal. Max is something of a celebrity in Newmarket circles. He is the chef and founder of the racing town''s favourite Michelin-starred restaurant, the Hay Net. However, spending the night in the throes of agony with chronic food poisoning is the last thing Max expects - such things simply aren''t becoming of a professional chef. And the last thing he needs is to hear that his food is suspected of putting twenty-four of the guests in hospital. Within hours, Max''s restaurant is being forcibly closed, his reputation is teetering on the brink of ruin, and a court case seems to be looming. But the day is far from over, and soon Max Moreton finds himself desperately fighting for more than just his livelihood...