Hands Down – Book Review

Hands Down, Felix Francis, Crooked Lane, 2022

by Bonnie Tollefson

One night, at dinner, the conversation turned to authors who have died, but the series they were writing live on. Clive Cussler had taken on a co-author for each of his series and now some of those authors are continuing their particular series. Brian Sanderson was selected to write the last book in the Wheel of Time series when Robert Jordan died, but Sanderson said there were so many notes left by Jordan that the series continued for another 3 books. In particular, we mentioned Tony Hillerman whose daughter Anne continued his series, with more emphasis on the female characters, and Felix Francis, who took over his father’s legacy with spotty success.

Hands Down is one of Felix’s more successful entries. Although it is sixth in the Sid Halley series (4 by Dick 2 by Felix) it can be read as a stand alone. Nothing stays the same forever, and British horse racing is no exception. Since Sid retired as a jockey, the “jockey agent” has come into existence. With the regulatory agencies refusing to get involved in agent fees, the arena is perfect for corruption. Agents start telling jockeys or stable owners which horses should lose. One trainer stands up to the corruption and appeals to Sid for help. Sid has his own problems, so puts off his friend. After his friend’s stable is burned and the friend winds up dead, Sid feels he must get involved to “save the integrity of British racing”. As one can imagine, close calls and mayhem ensue. How can Sid expose the bad guys while protecting those caught in the web of corruption? No spoilers here– read and enjoy.

Hands Down is available from the RVM Library and the Jackson County Library System.

Due to the interest in Arti (Chat GPT) I asked the website to write a short review of the book not including spoilers. Below is what it came up with. As you can see there are 3 errors in the first paragraph. The main character is Sid Halley not Jeff Hinkley. Sid is an independent investigator and the plot to fix horse races is in Britain, not America. It looks like my job is safe for a few more quarters.

“Hands Down” by Felix Francis is a thrilling novel that will keep readers on the edge of their seats from start to finish. The story follows Jeff Hinkley, an investigator for the British Horseracing Authority, as he attempts to uncover a plot to fix horse races in America.

Francis’s writing style is engaging and fast-paced, with plenty of twists and turns to keep readers guessing. The characters are well-developed and intriguing, each with their own motivations and secrets.

One of the standout features of “Hands Down” is Francis’s detailed and accurate portrayal of the world of horse racing. It’s clear that the author has a deep knowledge and love of the sport, and this shines through in the book.

Overall, “Hands Down” is a highly entertaining read that will appeal to fans of both mystery novels and horse racing. With its gripping plot, well-drawn characters, and authentic setting, it’s a book that is hard to put down.