Mysterious Thoughts on a Thursday

January 09, 2013

In December, Thursday’s Mystery Book Club discussed Under Orders by Dick Francis. From what I’ve read on Francis, it doesn’t sound like he ever intentionally set out to write a Sid Halley series. If an idea came up for a book that he thought fit Sid, then Sid became the main character. So, if you read the Sid books in order, you’ll find big gaps in his life.

This book takes place 10 years after the riding accident that ended his career as a jockey. Looking into a death at the track leads Sid into the world of online gambling and revenge. It is a good solid mystery, but a couple members did find the explanations on gambling too long and boring. Others found it interesting, but did agree that it slows down the pace of the story. I personally liked that Sid finally becomes comfortable with himself as whole, missing parts and all. Dick Francis has written many other titles, I listed only the ones with Sid as the main character below.

Sid Halley
1. Odds Against (1965)
2. Whip Hand (1979)
3. Come to Grief (1995)
4. Under Orders (2006)

On January 10th, we will be discussing Hardball by Sara Paretsky. It is her thirteenth V. I. Warshawski book. If Thursday morning doesn’t work for you, the Monday evening group will be discussing this same title on the January 14th at 7:00 p.m. Books for the current month’s selection can be picked up at the Blue Ridge Branch.

Michelle L.
Blue Ridge Branch