John Francome – författare

Two riders, two unexplained deaths... Ex-National Hunt Champion Jockey John Francome presents Back Hander, an electrifying racing thriller. The perfect read for fans of Felix Francis and Lyndon Stacey. ''Back Hander is a tightly plotted and well-schooled story... that delivers everything it promises'' - Tangled WebNot much is going right for jockey Alan Morrell. He can''t get the rides he needs and when he sets up a bloodstock partnership a tragic accident robs him of the business and his best friend Lee. Now Alan owes £100,000 and his only asset is a racehorse who has yet to be put to the test. But all that fades into insignificance next to the suspicion that Lee''s fatal fall was more than an accident... Things aren''t looking so hot for fellow-jockey Max Ashwood either. There''s the backlash from his affair with a trainer''s wife and the little matter of his gambling. There''s also the convenient death of another man to whom Max owed money. But surely no one is ever going to find out the truth about his part in that... Two riders, two unexplained deaths - but overshadowing both is a conflict that dwarfs the cosy world of racetrack winners and losers. As the noose closes round the neck of one man''s criminal empire, just how many others will swing?What readers are saying about Back Hander:''A gripping story from start to finish''''Highly recommended if you like horse-racing thrillers''''Brilliant plotline which hinges on two doomed love affairs''

Some people will do anything to win...Break Neck is an electrifying racing thriller filled with shocking revelations. John Francome''s thrillers are perfect for fans of Felix Francis'' Pulse and Triple Crown. ''Like Dick Francis... A winner'' - Mail on Sunday When apprentice jockey Rory Gillespie abandons his fiancée Laura Brickhill, in favour of trainer''s daughter Pam Fanshaw, it''s a decision made from ambition not love. And Rory has to wait ten years before Laura will forgive him. Now one of England''s leading trainers, and married to property tycoon Luke Mundy, Laura asks Rory to ride her best horse, Midnight Express, in Cheltenham''s Two Mile Champion Chase. Shortly afterwards, Luke is killed on one of Laura''s horses and she is arrested for manslaughter. Rory won''t desert her this time and, setting out to prove Laura''s innocence, he discovers that there is more than one person who will benefit from Luke''s death. What readers are saying about Break Neck:''Great story with lots of twists and turns''''John Francome is up there with the best Racing thriller authors''''Star quality writing, totally gripping and unputdownable''

A thoroughbred thriller that keeps your heart racing to the finish...Cover Up is a gripping racing thriller from ex-jockey and racing broadcaster John Francome. The perfect read for fans of Felix Francis'' Pulse and Triple Crown and Dick Francis'' classic crime novels.''Jealousy, blackmail and teenage emotions are well-stirred into this exciting mix. In a word - readable'' - Herald Sun (Australia) What''s the worst way to die? At the end of a rope driven by your own shame and despair? Or savaged in the jaws of a black-hearted stallion who has hated you for years? If only the bankrupt gambler and the stable girl were alive to give us the answer...For a jockey they say there''s no thrill like riding a big winner but Rob Harding has found something better - that''s breeding one. His two-year-old colt Goldeneye is the product of Rob''s own stud farm and, as the horse takes the July Stakes at Newmarket in some style, it seems he can lift Rob''s failing business out of the mire. But no amount of prize money can deflect the tragedy that''s waiting round the corner.Rob''s head girl Ivana, a horse-mad beauty from the Czech Republic, would also revel in Goldeneye''s triumph except for the terrifying reappearance of her sadistic ex-lover Milos. She''s run a long way to escape from him - but it looks like she hasn''t run far enough...What readers are saying about Cover Up:''A great book with many twists and turns''''The pace of the plot stops you from putting it down''''Just brilliant''

Getting away with murder is a real art...John Francome will keep you on your toes with an unstoppable chain of events throughout Dark Horse. The perfect read for fans of Lynden Stacey and Felix Francis'' Pulse and Triple Crown.''A taut and twisting plot gallops along all the way to the finish line'' - Daily Express Ten years ago, a car crash left a girl dead and four friends from racing school with a dark secret. Since then they have gone their separate ways and have managed to put the memory of that day to the backs of their minds. But when a hit-and-run sparks off a chain of unstoppable events, and a journalist starts asking questions, these men know that the truth of that day is about to come to light.In the world of flat racing, everything rides on reputation and there are those who would do just about anything to save their own necks and keep a secret buried...What readers are saying about Dark Horse:''A pacy and exciting racing mystery that''s well up to Francome''s high standard''''As always a super read''''Recommend if you like a keep-you-guessing mystery with a racing background''

Bad blood - it''s all in the breeding... Dead Ringer is a gripping racing thriller from ex-jockey and racing broadcaster John Francome. The perfect read for fans of Dick Francis and Felix Francis'' Pulse and Triple Crown''Pacy racing and racy pacing... Francome has found his stride as a solo novelist'' - Horse and Hound When twelve-year-old David Tredington vanished, his father, one of England''s top breeders, vowed never to give up the search for his son. Now, fifteen years later, David has been found alive and well in County Mayo. When the charismatic young man returns to the family''s Devonshire estate, he receives a mixed welcome. His elder sister, Lucy, distrusts him from the start. Jason, David''s brother-in-law and David''s cousin, George, are even less pleased to see another heir to the Tredington fortune. But David''s natural skills as a jockey soon attract favourable attention in the steeple-chasing world. Then a terrifying accident leads to an innocent stable lad''s death, and David suspects that his own life is in danger. Someone knows the truth about his past and wants him to disappear all over again. David must find out who and why before it''s too late...What readers are saying about Dead Ringer:''His best novel with an excellent ending'' ''Great story, intriguing plot, good characters''''Another Francome masterpiece''

There is no hiding place for a jump jockey when his courage deserts him...Dead Weight is a gripping racing thriller addressing the mental challenges faced by jump jockeys, from ex-jockey and racing broadcaster John Francome. The perfect read for fans of Dick Francis and Felix Francis'' Pulse and Triple Crown. ''Authentic, thrilling and compulsive'' - Bookseller After a crashing fall, champion rider Phil Nicholas returns to racing, but though his body has healed, his mind has not. Flashbacks of his accident invade his dreams, rob him of his sleep - and freeze him in the saddle. While Phil is battling to overcome his fear, his weighing-room colleague Adrian Moore is viciously attacked after losing a race he should have won. It''s the start of a vendetta by someone determined to hurt those who break the rules of racing. If Phil wants to save the sport - and the woman he loves - it''s time for him to recover his nerve...What readers are saying about Dead Weight:''Great characters and tons of nail-biting racecourse action, sex and jokes''''A thrill on every page''''Just like reading a Dick Francis novel. Great read from beginning to end''

Once you cross the line there''s no going back... From the author of Break Neck and Outsider, comes False Start, a thriller set in the world of horseracing, in which a young trainer is accused of murder, leaving his friend to discover the truth. The perfect read for fans of Felix Francis'' Pulse and Triple Crown. ''[Francome is] the natural successor to Dick Francis'' - Irish Times When Charlie Patterson and Nick Ryder begin training together they strike gold in their first season. The two lifelong friends have been sent a yearling by Kate Scanlan, the attractive boss of a local animal rescue centre. Willow Star, as the scrawny filly is named, is sold to Major Patterson, Charlie''s step-father, and the youngster quickly defies her looks by establishing herself as one of the fastest of her age. A stab at the following year''s classic races is about to begin when, without warning, Major Patterson informs Charlie and Nick that he is selling Willow Star to another yard. The ambitious trainers see their chance of hitting the big time disappear when their attempts to deter the sale fail. What ensues is a thrilling tale of mystery that finds Charlie cornered, facing the impossible dilemma of having to choose precisely where his loyalties lie; with his best friend or with his family; and needing to solve a murder to stay alive...What readers are saying about False Start:''Thoroughly enthralling''''Brilliantly explores the deeds and misdeeds in horseracing''''Filled with twists and turns''

The need to win can push some people over the edge...John Francome explores greed and expectation in his electrifying racing thriller Free Fall. The perfect read for fans of Felix Francis'' Pulse and Triple Crown.''Curiosity and clever writing will compel you to keep reading this tough and torrid tale... a fun read'' - Horse & Hound Jockey Pat Vincent has ambitions to win the best races and become a wealthy sporting hero. But Pat knows his dreams will never be fulfilled so he''s devised a brilliant new scam which, if discovered, would see him warned off for life. But first it''s guaranteed to make him rich.Pat''s girlfriend Zoe is starting her second full season as an apprentice jockey. A talented rider, she has a chance of becoming champion apprentice, if she''s not side tracked by the disasters of her sister Harriet''s unhappy marriage...Along the crumbling cliffs in Somerset a man walks his dog. Every day Andy Burns - Pat''s partner-in-crime, Harriet''s tortured husband - wrestles with the demons that haunt his life. But Andy would be better off keeping his thoughts on the ground - it''s a long way down to the beach below. What readers are saying about Free Fall:''So many twists and turns the reader isn''t sure which way the storyline will go''''Brilliant!''''He [Francome] gets better and better''

If everyone else was fighting dirty, could you rise above it?Ex-jockey and Channel 4 broadcaster John Francome explores blackmail on the racecourse in his shocking racing thriller High Flyer. The perfect read for fans of Felix Francis'' Pulse and Triple Crown.''Mr Francome is a natural storyteller'' - New York Times Life hasn''t been easy for Joey Leatham. As a tiny orphan he had to fight to survive. Then he escaped to a circus, where he was captivated by Nina Korsakov and discovered an affinity with horses, but a trapeze accident forced him to leave to join his brother as an apprentice jockey in Newmarket.Suddenly his lack of size is an advantage and Joey becomes one of the most sought-after jockeys in Europe. Success brings him happiness for the first time in his life. Then, by an ironic twist of fate, he is blackmailed. Despite his innocence, Joey knows that his tormentor could ruin his career as well as his relationship with Nina. When he discovers his only witness has been murdered, he fears he will be paying for the rest of his life. But how can he reveal the identity of his blackmailer? And how long can he hold out?What readers are saying about High Flyer:''Could not put it down - great from start to finish''''Had me gripped all the way through''''Excellent as always''

Inside Track is another jaw-dropping racing thriller from ex-jockey and TV broadcaster John Francome, with all the drama and colour of the racing world. The perfect read for fans of Felix Francis'' Pulse and Triple Crown.''There are some genuinely exhilarating descriptions of races that capture the tension and excitement, and could be written only with a jockey''s insight'' - Daily Mail Pippa Hutchinson is an aspiring young trainer, certain that given the right horses she is as good as anyone in the business. Until, that is, an owner removes two horses to another yard, and one shows dramatic improvement. She enlists the help of her brother, Jamie, once a star flat jockey, now trying to revive his racing career over fences after a harrowing term in prison. But former wild boy Jamie has his own demons to deal with, like the new challenge of jumps riding, the hostility of those who can never forgive him for a young lad''s death - and the black wall within him that separates him from his past.What readers are saying about Inside Track:''The best book he [John Francome] has written so far''''An outstanding, compelling book from start to finish''''Well written, well-paced and the way he portrays the differing characters is astounding''

This is one race you can''t afford to lose...Lifeline is another dark racing thriller from ''the natural successor to Dick Francis'' (Irish Times), John Francome. The perfect read for fans of Felix Francis'' Pulse and Triple Crown.''Chasing the winning post is not only the aim of the jockey, it becomes compelling for the reader as Francome delves deeply into the murky side of racing'' - Oxford Times Unlike some jockeys, Tony Byrne has never taken a bung and never ridden a dishonest race. All the same, his career is heading for the rocks, dragged down by weight problems and woman trouble - and too many slow horses. In comparison, Freddy Montague has never been fussy about sticking to the rules, either on the racetrack or in bed with another man''s wife. And if there''s money on offer to fix races, Freddy''s guaranteed to be first on the gravy train. Unfortunately for both men, the guarantees run out once Freddy''s train comes off the rails. That''s when the gravy turns to blood...What readers are saying about Lifeline:''The style is quick and absorbing, with many twists and turns both on and off the racecourse''''Fast and furious intrigue and murder''''I have never been a fan of horseracing but this book brought to life the thrill of the chase for me''

When the odds are stacked against you do you give in or get even?John Francome explores danger and skulduggery on the race track in his racing thriller Outsider. The perfect read for fans of Felix Francis'' Pulse and Triple Crown.''Thrills, twists and turns on and off the racecourse'' - Irish Independent Already a leading jockey in his home country, Jake Felton comes to England to further his career and avoid confrontation with New York''s racing mafia. But his plans to combine the life of an English squire with that of a top-flight jockey look like they''re coming to a sticky end when he falls victim to a series of accidents that begin to seem all too deliberate. Aided and abetted by typical English rose Camilla Fielding, Jake discovers that he''s been targeted by a ruthless and professional killer. And now he urgently needs to find out why...What readers are saying about Outsider:''True work of an excellent thriller writing'' ''First class read as usual with all the twists and turns you would expect from Francome''''Keeps you guessing until the end''

When it comes to corruption and murder there''s no easy way out...Jockey Archie Best gets caught up in a web of corruption in John Francome''s exhilarating racing thriller Rough Ride. The perfect read for fans of Lynden Stacey and Felix Francis'' Pulse and Triple Crown. ''The racing feel is authentic and it''s a pacy, entertaining read'' - Evening Standard When amateur jockey Archie Best receives a surprise legacy from an old family friend, it proves to have some unwelcome strings attached. The strange bequest points an accusing finger at Clive Drury, an influential and affluent businessman who mixes with cabinet ministers and has his wealthy fingers in every conceivable pie. Helped by his would-be girlfriend, Georgie - and distracted by the rather obvious charms of Drury''s daughter, Amanda - Archie sets out to substantiate the extraordinary claims. But only gradually does he discover the extent of the web of corruption, and the deadly nature of his adversary...What readers are saying about Rough Ride:''Gripped my attention all the way through''''Excellent plot, making the book difficult to put down''''Really enjoyable read - I love the settings of these books''

Would you risk it all to get the truth?The sudden death of a jockey-in-decline leaves his best friend with some very serious questions in Safe Bet, John Francome''s compelling racing thriller. The perfect read for fans of Felix Francis'' Pulse and Triple Crown. ''Francome provides a vivid panorama of the racing world... and handles the story''s twist deftly'' - The Times Only when it''s too late does Mike Powell realise that he''s wasted his talents as a jockey and spoilt his marriage. His riding career is in decline; his beautiful wife, Tessa, has left him. And, to cap it all, he''s almost bankrupt, having tried to build a future by pinhooking. Then, on the way to the Sports Personality of the Year Awards, Mike is killed in a car crash.When his old friend Jed Harvard discovers that Mike''s estate has been left to an American called George Parker - a man he''s never heard of before - his suspicions are aroused. While tracking down George, Jed discovers that Mike''s business deals have left a number of bitter enemies, and he realises that all is not what it seems...What readers are saying about Safe Bet:''Another cracker from the man who has taken his skills from the saddle straight to his writing desk''''Excellent as always''''[John Francome is] carrying on the excellent suspenseful Dick Francis style''

Stalking Horse is another dark racing thriller from ''the natural successor to Dick Francis'' (Irish Times), John Francome. The perfect read for fans of Felix Francis'' Pulse and Triple Crown.''The descriptions of races, from the jockey''s saddle, are realistic enough to excite a confirmed non-racegoer'' - Scotsman Jockey Josh Swallow is about to retire and he''s aiming to go out at the top. He''s ridden over 1000 winners and landed all the big prizes in the sport - all except one. So he''s determined that this season the title of champion jockey will finally be his. But it won''t be easy. There''s Ben O''Brien, the brilliant young Irish rider in his first full season who already has a lead on Josh in the championship race. And leading trainer Leo Lovall, once Josh''s best friend and now his most bitter enemy. There''s also someone else with a keen interest in Josh. She''s his biggest fan, though he has no idea she exists. And hers is the kind of obsession that will never be satisfied - not even by murder...What readers are saying about Stalking Horse:''Add this to the best horseracing action since Dick Francis retired''''A really top-notch racing thriller''''I found myself completely wrapped up in the race for the jockey''s championship, not to mention itching to find out what would happen off the track''

Blackmail, seduction and murder - there''s more to horseracing than meets the eye John Francome explores the cut-throat world of international flat racing in his jaw dropping racing thriller Stone Cold. The perfect read for fans of Felix Francis'' Pulse and Triple Crown.''The racing feel is authentic and it''s a pacy, entertaining read'' - Evening Standard It was only a horse race, but it could make Kelly Connor''s reputation. Unfortunately there was more riding on Pendero''s back at Ascot than a young jockey''s career. There was the biggest gamble in the unsavoury life of trainer Harry Short. There was the decadent livelihood of Ibn Fayoud, the rich playboy son of an Arab sheikh. And for Jack Butler, the successful bookmaker, there was the sweetest, most dangerous deal imaginable...It was only a horse race, but it led Kelly Connor into a deadly international conspiracy of blackmail, seduction and murder.What readers are saying about Stone Cold:''Once again Francome delivers the goods''''The best book I have read in some time''''A great story that makes you a feel part of the racing scene''