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Whip Hand (1979)

by Dick Francis

Other authors: See the other authors section.

Series: Sid Halley (2)

MembersReviewsPopularityAverage ratingMentions
1,3311914,184 (3.95)32
Fiction. Mystery. Suspense. Thriller. By the end of the week Sid Halley didn't have just one job, but three. When the latest of three prize-winning horses, all with promising futures, inexplicably putters out at the track, a trainer's wife suspects foul play and asks Sid to watch their latest great acquisitionâ??Tri-Nitroâ??to ensure he doesn't come to the same end. Then Sid's ex-wife Jenny, still full of bitterness, is accused of fraud after she is innocently duped by a con artist into parting with thousands in a charity scam. And even more, top brass of the Security Service solicits Sid to find out if one of his investigators is receiving hush money. Like all of Francis' characters, Sid's sleuthing brings him back to the track and the stable, and he feels the familiar regret and nostalgia for the racing life that must always elude him. At the height of his career, Sid's arm was shattered under the crushing weight of his falling horse. Now a mechanical arm reminds him of lost hopes and the terrible price the passion to win extracts from a racer's… (more)
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» See also 32 mentions

English (16)  Danish (2)  French (1)  All languages (19)
Showing 1-5 of 16 (next | show all)
Book # 2 in the Sid Halley series. Sid’s career as a top-rated jockey ended when a horse rolled over onto him, crushing his left hand. The hand was later amputated, and he now wears a state-of-the-art prosthesis, but he cannot be a jockey.

The plot is intricate and includes a couple of different mysteries, both of which involve unscrupulous business dealings and which involve Sid’s two loves: his ex-wife Jenny and thoroughbred racing. One of these will seriously threaten Sid’s life and his psyche. Both are complicated and require all his skill to ferret out the truth and bring the perpetrators to justice. Sid is forced to face his greatest fears and answer for himself: Is there anything you’re afraid of?

I love Sid. He’s determined, inquisitive, courageous, and principled. He’s got a great sidekick in Chico, as well; and his father-in-law has his back, too ( )
  BookConcierge | May 26, 2022 |
So I really listened to a dramatized version rather than read the whole book so I don't know how to grade it. It seemed similar to Francis' other books so, three maybe. ( )
  bratell | Dec 25, 2020 |
4.5, if I could. One of the more enjoyable Francis books I've read in a while, or maybe I was just more in the mood now. Sid Halley is a likable protagonist, as I guess they all are, and this one was thought-provoking, as usual. My favorite summer reading! ( )
  beautifulshell | Aug 27, 2020 |
This novel bagged Francis his second Edgar award. It is a fun read that offers a fast paced, suspenseful story with a great look at the world of English horse racing written by an insider. ( )
  danhammang | Aug 1, 2019 |
I like almost anything written by Dick Francis, but this is one of his best. If you are not familiar with his books, Dick Francis writes mysteries that involve English horse racing, generally from a jockey's perspective, and always bring in information about some other profession. They are always well-researched and well-written. The male characters are usually very complete. They are usually all separate books (not a continuing series) but Sid Halley, this book's main character, is a repeat and a great protagonist.
( )
  400mom | Nov 23, 2016 |
Showing 1-5 of 16 (next | show all)
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» Add other authors (8 possible)

Author nameRoleType of authorWork?Status
Dick Francisprimary authorall editionscalculated
Lundgren, AstridTranslatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
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this book is for
Mike Gwilym Actor
and
Jacky Stoller Producer
with gratitude and affection
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I took the battery out of my arm and fed it into the recharger, and only realized I'd done it when ten seconds later the fingers wouldn't work.
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(Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)
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Fiction. Mystery. Suspense. Thriller. By the end of the week Sid Halley didn't have just one job, but three. When the latest of three prize-winning horses, all with promising futures, inexplicably putters out at the track, a trainer's wife suspects foul play and asks Sid to watch their latest great acquisitionâ??Tri-Nitroâ??to ensure he doesn't come to the same end. Then Sid's ex-wife Jenny, still full of bitterness, is accused of fraud after she is innocently duped by a con artist into parting with thousands in a charity scam. And even more, top brass of the Security Service solicits Sid to find out if one of his investigators is receiving hush money. Like all of Francis' characters, Sid's sleuthing brings him back to the track and the stable, and he feels the familiar regret and nostalgia for the racing life that must always elude him. At the height of his career, Sid's arm was shattered under the crushing weight of his falling horse. Now a mechanical arm reminds him of lost hopes and the terrible price the passion to win extracts from a racer's

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The protagonist Sid Halley is an ex-jockey turned detective who lost his left hand due to an earlier racing accident and subsequent beating by thugs. He is approached by Rosemary Caspar, a trainer's wife, to look into problems at her husband's racing stables. Horses which did extremely well as two-year olds are unexpectedly failing as three year olds. In addition, Sid Halley's ex-father-in-law, Charles, asks Sid to try and find a man who has conned Sid's ex-wife Jenny and left her facing a possible jail sentence over a fake charity. Sid is also approached by both Lord Friarly, a racehorse owner and syndicate member, and Lucas Wainwright, the head of the security service at the Jockey Club, to look into certain syndicates and how they got through the Jockey Club's checking process.

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