DICK FRANCIS

Dick and Felix Francis team up for another father/son collaboration with the fast-paced thriller SILKS. Their latest page-turner is once again set at a race track, and revolves around a barrister who has regrets after taking on the case of a jockey accused of murder. When he begins to feel pressure to purposely throw the case, he is thrown into a moral crisis of whether to protect himself or go against everything he believes in. Dick Francis is a former jockey, and his many tales of the track have been a huge hit among racing and mystery fans alike.

"Julian Trent, you have been found guilty by this court of perpetrating a violent and unprovoked attack on an innocent family, including a charge of attempted murder. You have shown little or no remorse for your actions and I consider you a danger to society." When defence barrister Geoffrey Mason hears the judge's verdict, he quietly hopes that a long and arduous custodial sentence will be handed down to his arrogant young client. That Julian Trent only receives eight years seems all too lenient. Little does Mason expect that he'll be looking Trent in the eyes again much sooner than he'd ever imagined.Setting aside his barrister's wig, Mason heads to Sandown to don his racing silks. An amateur jockey, his true passion is to be found in the saddle on a Thoroughbred, pounding the turf in the heat of a steeplechase. But when a fellow rider is brutally murdered - a pitchfork driven through his chest - Mason's racing life soon becomes all too close to his working life. The prime suspect is one of their brethren, champion jockey Steve Mitchell; the evidence is overwhelming. Mason is reluctant to heed Mitchell's pleas for legal advice - but soon he finds himself at the centre of a sinister web of threat and intimidation. Mason is left fighting a battle of right and wrong, and more immediately, a battle of life and death...his own.

Royal Ascot''s first day, and bookmaker Ned Talbot watches helplessly as a string of favourites come in. With the punters totting up their winnings, he counts his losses. Then an old man steps forward with a very different claim. The father Ned never knew - long ago believed killed in a car crash - is standing before him. Barely an hour later, Ned''s newly-found father is dying in Ascot''s car park. Stabbed by an unknown assailant, he warns Ned ''be very careful''. But of whom? Of what? Ned races to discover the truth behind his father''s disappearance and sudden reappearance. It''s not just money on the line now. It''s lives.

Shell-shocked and missing a foot, lost to an IED during his tour of duty in Afghanistan, Captain Tom Forsyth uses his finely honed military skills to find the person blackmailing his estranged mother--the first lady of British racing--who is being forced to make her horses lose.

Captain Thomas Forsyth′s tour of Afghanistan is cut brutally short when he′s badly wounded by an IED - an Improvised Explosive Device - a roadside bomb. Tom′s world is torn apart by the injury - the army is his life. Six months of recuperation leave is a daunting prospect - but not as bleak as the probability of never rejoining his regiment.

On the first day of Royal Ascot, the crowd rejoices in a string of winning favourites. Ned Talbot has worked all his life as a bookmaker ndash; taking over the family business from his grandfather ndash; so he knows not to expect any sympathy from the punters as they count their winnings, and he counts his losses. He''s seen the ups and downs before ndash; but, as the big gambling conglomerates muscle in on small concerns like his, Ned wonders if it''s worth it any more.When a grey-haired man steps forward from the crowd claiming to be his father, Ned''s life is thrown into far deeper turmoil. He''d been told since he was a baby that his parents had died in a car crash.Barely an hour later his newly found father is stabbed by an unknown assailant in the Ascot car park. Blood oozing from his abdomen, he warns Ned: ''Be very careful''. But of whom? Of what? Ned finds himself in a race to solve his father''s riddles, a race where coming second could cost him more than even money, it could cost him his life.

From award-winning author Dick Francis and his son, Felix, comes Geoffrey Mason--a defense barrister whose true passion is riding his thoroughbred. When a fellow jockey is accused of murdering a colleague, Mason is torn between doing what's right--and what will keep him alive. Available in a tall Premium Edition.

The Grand Master returns in prize-winning form Geoffrey Mason did it for the money. It is obvious that his client Julian Trent is guilty, and it's about time rich boy Trent is taught a lesson for his violent ways. The only thing still bothering Geoff is that he is going to miss participating in the Foxhunter Steeplechase' the "Gold Cup" for amateur riders'because the trial has taken a lot longer than expected. Although still an amateur, Geoff is well known (as "Perry" Mason) among the pro riders, including Steve Mitchell and Scot Barlow'arguably the two top pros. So when Scot Barlow is murdered'with Mitchell's pitchfork nonetheless'Geoff finds himself pulled into the case as a junior barrister.

On the first day of Royal Ascot, the crowd rejoices in a string of winning favourites. Ned Talbot has worked all his life as a bookmaker - taking over the family business from his grandfather - so he knows not to expect any sympathy from the punters as they count their winnings, and he counts his losses. He's seen the ups and downs before - but, as the big gambling conglomerates muscle in on small concerns like his, Ned wonders if it's worth it any more. When a grey-haired man steps forward from the crowd claiming to be his father, Ned's life is thrown into far deeper turmoil. He'd been told since he was a baby that his parents had died in a car crash. Barely an hour later his newly found father is stabbed by an unknown assailant in the Ascot car park. Blood oozing from his abdomen, he warns Ned: 'Be very careful'. But of whom? Of what? Ned finds himself in a race to solve his father's riddles, a race where coming second could cost him more than even money, it could cost him his life.

Alexander Kinloch, artist, lives alone on a remote Scottish mountain. His peace is shattered when he finds a group of strangers waiting for him at his home. After a scuffle, he is left for dead, with the words "where is it?" ringing in his ears. But, the days that follow contain even more danger.