Dead Cert
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Dead Cert is Dick Francis' first novel, published in 1962.
| Dead Cert | |
| Author | Dick Francis |
|---|---|
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
| Genre(s) | Mystery, historical novel |
| Publication date | 1962 |
| Followed by | 'Nerve' |
Alan York is mystified by the unnatural fall of the favorite and his rider in front of him. Sure, the weather was bad, but the fall didn’t look right.
Tragically, the horse landed on his jockey, morally injuring him. That alone was bad enough for Alan; he had lived with the jockey and his family. What really upset him was the wire he found next to the hedge. Someone had wanted the horse and jockey to fall. Alan decides to find out who.
The police are non-committal about the fall. By the time Alan had notified them, the wire was gone, and there was little else to indicate any foul play.
But other events started to reveal a pattern of evil that had led to murder. Distracting Alan, but only a bit, is the lovely Kate, who is a new owner of a jumper herself. Alan is not alone is his fascination, but he is not one to give up easily.
That streak of stubbornness brings Alan face to face with some muscle men who want him to lay off his private investigation. Instead of scarring him off, it only focuses him more on the job at hand.
It appears that the same people that have run a protection racket in Brighton for the last few years are now involved in trying to fix races. An odd combination to be sure, but one that provides some valuable clues.
Unfortunately for one of Alan’s fellow jockeys, the racketeers start getting more vicious. Alan, realizing his predicament, engineers an escape atop his prize horse. Leading the gang through the English countryside, taking fences like they were part of the Grand National, he eludes his pursuit, and even manages to kidnap one of his pursuers.
Quickly taking advantage of the situation, he tracks down the mastermind, and brings the police in to end the threat and eliminate the gang in its entirety.
Finally winning the girl, he also revenges himself on the last member of the gang to escape the law, in a manner that would have made his late friend proud.
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