Dick Francis’ Odds Against marks the debut of Sid Halley, one of crime fiction’s most compelling protagonists—a former champion jockey turned disabled private investigator. After a racing accident shatters his hand and career, Sid joins a London detective agency, where his insider knowledge of the racing world proves invaluable. His first major case plunges him into a web of corruption involving race fixing, corporate fraud, and violent intimidation.
When a ruthless financier targets a vulnerable racecourse for takeover, Sid’s investigation uncovers brutal assaults, rigged bets, and a conspiracy that reaches into high society. Francis, a former jockey himself, lends authenticity to the racing details while crafting a tightly plotted mystery. Sid’s physical vulnerability (his maimed hand becomes both a weakness and a weapon) and psychological resilience elevate him beyond the typical hardboiled detective.
With its crisp pacing, understated heroism, and Francis’ signature blend of suspense and equestrian expertise, Odds Against launched a beloved series and cemented the author’s reputation as a master of the genre.
“A thriller that gallops—where every injury counts, and the finish line is survival.”
