ARC Review: Hands Down by Felix Francis

Hands Down
Author: Felix Francis
Publication: Crooked Lane Books (November 8, 2022)

Description: “The master of suspense and intrigue” (Country Life) is back with the next powerful installation in the Dick Francis series, featuring Sid Halley, perfect for fans of Harlan Coben and Michael Connelly.

Sid Halley, a private investigator, has a new left hand, having had a transplant since his last appearance in Refusal. After receiving death threats, an ex-jockey trainer friend calls Sid to ask for his help, but Sid has his own problems to deal with; like recovering from surgery and saving his crumbling marriage.

When his friend’s stable yard is torched, horses killed, and the friend is found dead, Sid can only blame himself for not helping sooner. The police think it’s suicide, but Sid is not convinced after his friend’s terrified phone calls. Heavy with a guilty heart, Sid starts to investigate and soon finds himself embroiled in a conspiracy that cuts to the very heart of the integrity of British horse racing.

Can Sid figure out what happened to his friend, or will he be the next one that the killer targets?

My Thoughts: Things should be good for Sid Halley. He's gotten a hand transplant and his new left hand is almost fully functional. He's given up investigating for investing which should eliminate most of the danger in his life. And he's married to his beloved Marina and has a nine-year-old daughter named Saskia who is the center of his existence.

But when Marina expresses discontent in their marriage and takes Saskia to visit her parents because her father is dying, Sid wonders if she'll ever come back. And then he gets a phone call from a man he used to race with who is now a trainer asking for help. Sid's reluctant to get involved since he's so focused on the state of his marriage. 

But when he learns that his friend's stables have burned down and he's presumed dead, Sid feels he has no choice but to get involved. Sid meets the friend who is hiding out for fear of villains, but the fear keeps him from telling Sid the whole story. And the villains catch up, murdering the friend and staging it as a suicide. 

Sid begins to investigate this new threat to the sport he loves. Someone is finding a way to rig horse races for their own financial gain and are blackmailing both jockeys and trainers to further their plot. Sid calls in old friend Chico Barnes to act as his backup and bodyguard. His former father-in-law Charles also has a role to play both as reluctant caretaker for Sid's dog and sounding board for Sid's thoughts. 

While I felt that the story started slowly and presented a more introspective Sid than that of earlier stories, the pace did pick up and engaged me in Sid's adventures. Nearing fifty and having much more to lose made Sid a more careful investigator but still a very persistent and intelligent one.

Favorite Quote:

Did she really want someone who couldn't give up the investigating drug?

I had tried -- God, I'd tried -- but there was something in me that need to right the wrongs I found, especially those in the other love of my life -- horse racing.

I received this one in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley. You can buy your copy here.