The first book in the series.
Sid Halley is the lead protagonist of four crime fiction novels written by Dick Francis, as well as an additional two books by his son Felix. The first book was the basis of a short-lived TV series entitled The Racing Game, starring Mike Gwilym as Halley. Gwilym's performance greatly impressed Francis, and inspired him to write further stories featuring the character.Halley is a successful jockey, whose career comes to a sudden end after his left hand is crippled during a racing accident. After taking up work at a security firm, Halley becomes involved in an investigation at a local racetrack. He solves it at the cost of his crippled hand being further damaged, and subsequently amputated. Supplied with a new prosthetic hand, he takes up a job as a private investigator.
All of the books, bar Under Orders and Refusal, have won the Edgar Award for Best Novel.
Novels in the Sid Halley series
- Odds Against (1965)
- Whip Hand (1979)
- Come to Grief (1995)
- Under Orders (2006)
- Refusal (2013) (written by Felix Francis, Dick Francis’ son)
- Hands Down (2022) (written by Felix Francis)
Tropes relating to the Sid Halley books:
- Amateur Sleuth: Halley in Odds Against.
- Artificial Limb: Halley gets one after his left hand is amputated.
- Best Friends-in-Law: Sid strikes up a firm friendship with his father-in-law, retired Rear Admiral Charles Roland. Even after Halley and Jenny Roland seperate, and later divorce, Sid and Charles remain close, with Charles sometimes assisting Sid in his investigations.
- Comic-Book Time: Odds Against was published in 1965, whilst Refusal was published in 2013. The books are set around the same time as their respective publications, yet in Refusal, Sid is only 47.
- Conveniently Unverifiable Cover Story: At one point in Under Orders Sid has Charles' neighbour Rodney pose as a retired ballistics expert. When asked to pick a place for him to come from that's hard to look into, Rodney offers up the University of Bulawayo, noting that "no one will be able to check on that now that it's Zimbabwe".
- First-Person Perspective: Halley’s.
- Private Detective: Halley is this from Whip Hand onwards.
- Sidekick: Judo instructor Chico Barnes, serves as this for the first two books. He’s absent thereafter (though repeatedly name-dropped), but comes back for the final book Refusal.
- Targeted to Hurt the Hero: In Under Orders Halley's then-girlfriend Marina gets attacked multiple times, and each one is followed by a threatening letter to Halley.
